What is IoT
An introduction to IoT
A fridge that automatically orders milk when the last one on the shelf has been drunk. A car that senses its surroundings and drives you safely to work without a human in the driver's seat. A production machine that tells you exactly how many months it will be before it needs servicing. It may sound a bit sci-fi, but the reality is that all three of these things exist. They are examples of so-called IoT devices - also known as the Internet of Things.
Time to read: 12 minutes
Subject: IoT
Have you also heard about the new tech buzzword, the Internet of Things (IoT)? We thought so. IoT is rapidly evolving, and for good reason. An investment in IoT provides a solid foundation for long-term growth, new business models, innovative solutions, and improved relationships between businesses and customers.
But what exactly is IoT? Is it for everyone or only for a few? And how do you get started with IoT in your own business? You will find the answer in this post, where we present one of the most progressive tech trends of the time (and the world) right now.
What does IoT mean?
IoT stands for "Internet of Things."
IoT is challenging to define, as it can be understood both broadly and narrowly. Let us start broadly. In its broad sense, IoT encompasses the connection of physical world objects to the internet.
In other words: IoT is the link between the internet and physical things.
When you connect physical things to the web, you make it possible to communicate with the physical thing by collecting data from it, for example using small sensors (we'll get to that later in the post). The data collected can then be analyzed and turned into insights that can help your business with everything from streamlining business processes to taking more control of your private home, company buildings, workplace environment and more.
Where does IoT come from? The history of IoT
It may sound crazy, but the first step in the story of IoT involves something as simple as a good old-fashioned bet and a toaster. Let's start at the beginning.
In 1989, a man named Sir Tim Berners Lee first introduced the World Wide Web to the world. He did so at a technology conference. At the same conference, the conference president, Dan Lynch, made a bet with an attending IT developer called John Romkey. The bet was based on the fact that John Romkey believed he could connect a toaster to the Internet. A mission Dan Lynch did not believe was possible to accomplish.
In 1990, John Romkey won the bet after all, when he proudly showed off his toaster - the first thing ever to be connected to the internet.
It's this famous toaster that started what we now call the IoT - Internet of Things - and the trend hasn't stopped rolling ever since. On the contrary, a recent report from Business Insider, shows that in 2019 there were around 8 billion IoT devices in the world. That figure is expected to rise to a staggering 41 billion by 2027.
Who can work with IoT?
The short answer is that all businesses and organisations can work with IoT.
Every year we see how IoT is helping to disrupt old industries and even create new ones.
You probably know your industry very well, so you probably also know where IoT could make a difference to your business. So the big question isn't necessarily, why you should work with IoT, but instead how.The challenge for many companies here is to assess where IoT can add most value to the business. For example, is it through optimized processes or perhaps better use of your resources?
Hungry to get started on your own IoT project? Read our post: "How to get started with your IoT project", and find out what questions to ask yourself before embarking on your first IoT project.
How does IoT work?
In this section, we dig a little deeper into the world of IoT, so you might want to pay attention.
In order to work with IoT, three sub-elements are needed in general:
1) A physical object (thing) that we can retrieve data from or send to/control.
2) An IoT platform that can collect and store the data and determine how to use the data.
3) Users of this data who can create value.
At Iterator IT, we further divide the three sub-elements into three overall processes called: 1) Data Collection, 2) Data Processing and 3) Data Visualization. Together, they create what we call the IoT ecosystem.
Do you dream of:
- fully utilise your company's resources?
- optimize and enhance your operational processes?
- disrupt your industry with brand new products or services?
- discover more value in existing products and services?
IoT can be the answer to all of the objectives listed here.
Want to know how? Fortunately, we're experts at that at Iterator IT, and we'd be happy to help you with your IoT project
1. Data collection - the physical thing (the object)
When we write that IoT is the connection between physical things and the internet, you might be left wondering what these "physical things" mean. Can you really connect everything to the internet? As the historical toaster so nicely demonstrated, the answer to this question is: Yes!
You can connect everything from buildings to vehicles, plants, fridges and even animals to the internet. There's also a lot of interesting data to be found in less tangible things such as patterns or movements, and therefore you can actually also work with people as things, when talking about IoT.
In short, anything that can generate data has the potential to become an IoT device.
The way you collect this data will usually be through IoT sensors, which either mounted on or are located inside your IoT object and collect data. This data could be, for example, how a herd of animals is moving, how a machine is working, or how full a rubbish bin is.
2. Data processing - your IoT platform
This part of the IoT should be seen as the "brain" of the IoT system. Indeed, it is in this part of the IoT process that your data from the physical object is received and then transformed into meaningful insights and information that you can use to understand your data.
An IoT device can collect data from many different sensors, or control different systems out in the world. When an IoT platform receives data from IoT devices, this data is often of little use until it has been processed. The platform calculates, transforms and monitors your data, and stores the data in a format where it can actually be used to create value going forward. For example, if you are interested in monitoring the uptime of your machine, the platform will continuously check whether there is still a connection to the IoT device (machine). If instead you are interested in insights around the usage of your devices or machines, the platform will instead aggregate usage data. It's even possible to predict the wear and tear on your machines, so you can completely avoid downtime with the help of advanced algorithms and statistics.
På denne måde kan du også bruge dine data til at sætte handlinger eller opgaver i gang andre steder i din virksomhed. Det kan f.eks. være hvis en maskine er løbet tør for olie, og der skal bestilles nyt – ligesom en printer der selv bestiller friske printerpatroner. Det kan alt sammen implementeres og styres i IoT-platformen. Det er netop derfor, man også taler om, at det er i din IoT-platform, det bliver muligt at skabe kommunikation med dine IoT-enheder.
3. Data visualization - Users
The third and final part of the IoT project deals with data visualisation. Data visualization covers the different ways in which a user can gain insight into and utilize the data collected.
In many cases, the collected data will end up on some kind of software application such as a dashboard, an app or on a web portal where the user can interact with the collected data. This software application, in the form of a dashboard or web portal for example, can be used by the user in daily practices and tasks. As not all scenarios are identical for each user, in many situations there will be applications optimized for different devices. For example, a user who works most of the day in a production hall may benefit most from a mobile application that is close at hand. Similarly, a user sitting in the office is likely to benefit more from a web application.
The usability of the dashboard depends, in addition to the device and design, on what data is presented and whether it is relevant to the user. Many IoT devices "talk" together to transform their values into useful knowledge. It is therefore possible to connect a multitude of IoT devices to one software platform or dashboard, and thus visualize relevant insights to the end user.
Therefore, data visualisation is as crucial a point in the IoT platform as the IoT device itself, because if the user cannot use the data that is generated, the platform has little value.
Specific examples of IoT
With billions of devices connected to the internet today, you can probably figure out that the possibilities of IoT are almost endless. That's why IoT is in so many industries. Yes, it even exists in many private Danish homes. Below you will find a number of examples of how IoT can make both your work and your everyday life easier.
IoT makes your daily life at home easier
The IoT in the home, known as Smart Home, is increasingly capable of making your everyday life easier. Imagine an app that is connected to your smoke alarms, water pump, front door, thermostat, and lights in your house. With such an app, you can manage your entire home from one application on your phone, and you can even set the thermostat to only turn on when someone is home, or activate the alarm when everyone in the house is asleep. This is an example of an IoT system, which is already seen in many private Danish homes, as well as in businesses. If the alarm goes off or the lights turn on in the middle of the night, you will receive a message on your phone, so you can react in real-time.
But IoT can't just help you monitor your house, you can also monitor yourself. With the help of so-called wearables you can monitor your daily calorie burn, your sleep rhythm, your heart rate and your daily movement. All data collected from an IoT device that can help you have a healthier and more active everyday life.
Optimize your driving experience with driverless transport
Perhaps you have already heard of self-driving cars, but did you know that the first autonomous cars have already been deployed? With a self-driving car, you can suddenly utilize your travel time to work, read, or take a nap, because the car's IoT system takes care of all the work for you.
Avoid machine down time with IoT
Som virksomhed kan det være ekstremt dyrt at have en maskine, som er gået i stå. Med IoT-sensorer kan du tracke maskinens arbejde og bevægelser og dermed indsamle data om maskinen. Ved hjælp af dine data i samspil med machine learning og AI (artificial intelligence – på dansk kendt som kunstig intelligens) kan du begynde at forudse, hvornår en maskine vil få brug for vedligeholdelse. Det giver dig også muligheden for at identificere eventuelle problemer, før de bliver rigtigt alvorlige, og på den måde kan du være proaktiv i opretholdelsen af maskinens funktioner.
With IoT you can optimize everything in your business
With IoT, it is possible to monitor and manage everything from buildings to machines and vehicles, or even animals such as cattle and pigs. You can track everything from location to performance, conditions, and environmental factors, and thereby gain valuable insights that can enable process optimization, cost reduction, resource consumption, etc.
Automatic feeding machines take care of your animals even when you sleep
Even in agriculture, we see today that more and more are incorporating IoT into their daily work. Here, sensors in the stables can collect data from feeders or from the animals' chips and use this data to control everything from food and water to temperature and light - it can all even be automated so that you do not have to think about it yourself. This ensures optimal living conditions for the animals and enables the farmer to react before any problems arise.
IoT keeps an eye on your cargo - even on long journeys
Within transportation and logistics, IoT is extremely relevant. With the right sensors, it is possible to monitor both temperature, humidity, and more. Should the conditions be out of order, you will receive a direct notification so that action can be taken on the problem immediately.
Get started on your own IoT project - call us today!
IoT can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you haven't worked in the field before. At Iterator IT, we are experts in IoT and we are always ready to share our knowledge with others. Whether you are looking to learn more about IoT, seeking a sparring partner, or looking for your next IoT project partner, you are welcome to call us, and we will do our best to help you!
Iterator IT
Iterator IT is one of Denmark's leading IoT development companies, specializing in Industry 4.0. We are well-versed in the complex business models that exist in the industry. Over the years, we have assisted industrial companies in developing their Industry 4.0 projects, not just in terms of software development, but also by examining the various elements of the company from the ground up until we find a concrete use case that can create value for the company. In some cases, we have also been the primary driving force that has brought the project to fruition in collaboration with a project manager within the company.
We build the software for the project, including the cloud solution and visual elements for platforms or applications. With our skilled and experienced collaborators who have developed hardware over the years, we are capable of offering end-to-end IoT solutions.
If you have any doubts about what Industry 4.0 can do for you, please feel free to contact us either via our contact form here or call our CEO Casper at +45 31 39 05 69
