Analysis on the Internet of Things - Essay Example

ANALYSIS ON THE INTERNET OF THINGS + The rate at which the technology advances is at times alarming, as evidenced by the recent invention of the Internet of Things (IoT). In simple terms, IoT is said to the network through which physical things communicate with each with the help of software and using the internet as the medium of this communication (Feki et al, 2013). It is though that this invention helps companies, operators and even manufacturers in the achievement of greater value for their products as there is an exchange of information. Having been coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, a British national, the IoT has attracted a lengthy discussion on the impact it would have on machine owners and other relevant industries. While the definition of the term has never been a centre of debate, the words used are different. For instance, Carruthers (2014) states that IoT is a system that can digitally help other machines and owners at large, in understanding a couple of things including the functioning of the machines themselves. This essay aims at offering related information on the IoT. The paper has been organised in three sections including the link and difference between LOT and Internet, the basic properties and characteristics and the practical application of Internet of things on business. The link and difference between LOT and Internet While this technology will utilize the internet as its main driver, it is not synonymous with the latter in a number of ways. First, the internet hardly either alerts when something is about to happen or has already happened. On the other hand, the IoT is aimed at providing owners of certain products with information that shall enable them make decisions beforehand. Secondly, the internet is more of providing information rather than alerting anybody. According to Dutton (2014 the IoT intends to help humans in giving them accurate and timely data that could prove vital in various tasks. For instance, the technology can be employed in an automobile where tire pressure is indicated to the driver, thus enabling them to take the necessary steps. Secondly, the internet and IoT differ in the sense that the former is expected to have a direct communication with the owners of various products. In fact, some have equated to the Machine-2-Machine (M2M) phenomenon that was introduced some years back (Yang, 2015). However, the IoT will have better relay of the information to the relevant individuals compared to the M2M. Additionally, the IoT will have a communication with other machines, and this where companies, manufacturers and others are expected to benefit because the technology will offer a lot of help. Thirdly, the IoT differs from the interne because it is not limited to machines as is the case with both the internet itself and the M2M. According to Gao and Wei (2013), the technology could be extended to humans as well as animals. In the case of the internet, only some devises are internet-friendly for instance the mobile phones and computers. Actually, even some cell phones require some setting before accepting internet, with some not receiving at all. The situation is different in the IoT as it does not need the product or the medium to be internet-friendly. Instead, it uses various combinations of technology coupled with the help of the internet in the relaying of this information (Song and Fu, 2013) Further, the way internet works is significantly different from the operations and processes associated with the IoT. For instance, the internet seldom communicates with other machines in as direct manner as the IoT does. Additionally, the internet is used more in the search of information than in giving real-time analysis of a situation. Zheng (2012) asserted that the IoT is incomparable to the internet because while the latter plays an important role in the day-day activities, the former offers credible and instant data. Also, the internet tends to employ the help of the database where information is only provided upon a request through a search. Conversely, the IoT tends to have a directly relay of the information in different products. For instance, it tracks the usage and the condition of a product (Frankston, 2013). Notwithstanding the fact that the internet has a variance with the IoT, it is important to understand that there is a strong link. First, the technology will rely heavily on the internet more than anything else as it will be expected to share the information with other machines. To have a better understanding, one ought to focus on the recently invented technology of cloud system where information need not be in one’s computer. In order to access the information saved in a Cloud, the internet is a prerequisite (He, 2013). Similarly, the IoT significantly utilizes the internet in the passage, communication and sensing of the data. Secondly, the link exists in the sense that the information will not passed on to other machine manually. Instead, once the gadgets record certain information, it will use the internet as the medium of transmitting the findings to the third party (Liu et al, 2012). Moreover, the system is linked with the internet by way of collecting data about one’s surrounding. Xiang and Hu (2012) asserted that the IoT would be connected to some of the information already available on the internet about a product or a person it is covering. Also, another link existing between the IoT and the internet is that will have similar trait to that of the internet in as far as sharing of data is concerned. The internet is normally a worldwide system through which people can share the information. Similarly, the IoT will allow various institutions and individuals share specific information, albeit at the expense of some privacy (Calo, 2013). Finally, the link that cannot be overlooked in this relationship is that the information collected by the IoT will not only be transmitted through the internet platform, but also hosted or store in the same way. In other words, the IoT cannot work in independent of the internet, and both sharing and processing of the data collected will require close linkage of the two (Maras, 2015). The basic properties and characteristics. A number of properties normally characterize the IoT and, as indicated earlier, this section will highlight some of these. First, IoT is characterized by a Unique Internet Address (UIA), which in essence, helps in the identification of these products. The UIA brings together the physical objects and helps both in the identifying them as well as in the communication. Earlier, it was reported that IoT cannot work without relying, largely, on the internet, and this is one of the properties of the IoT. Also, this technology sees a form of communication between the machines, but this can only be possible where a network is identified (Zhong, 2013). In addition to the above property, a unique location is imperative in the processing and subsequent relaying of the information. By unique location, it is implied that this technology ought to work first, within a system or a network, which is in line with the purpose and the function of the objects as it generates the necessary intelligence (Mačiulienė, 2014). In short, the technology need to be allocated particular area, hosted by a network, which gives information related to the purpose the system, is intending to achieve. Machine-Processed Information is the other property and character of the IoT whereby the human intervention is not necessary. Unlike the internet where the human is expected to go searching for particular information, the IoT makes this process easy as it keeps recording with minimal human intervention (Shin, 2014). Renewed capabilities in the management and analysis of security are additional characteristics of the IoT. For decades, the issue of security whether cyber security or the direct security the common person needs has proved too much to handle. However, with the invention of the IoT, it is expected that it will offer various steps that could help in the management of the same. This goal will be achieved because there is strong software as well as processing devices that allow the uses to the system inter-operate in a transparent manner (Minoli, n.d.). It is, therefore, expected that the system will allow transparency, a lacking commodity whenever the issue of security is mentioned. Still, the IoT has Time and location serves as yet other property it is associated with where there will be a real-time relay of the happenings in a system. For instance, the efficiency of the heating or ventilation in a building will be determined in real-time as opposed to regular checks. Also, the system could aid in the investigations of soil-sampling and climate change (Vasseur and Dunkels, 2010). Then, IoT could be said to have characteristics and properties given that it has incorporated a couple of other technologies. For instance, the IoT is often confused to mean the same as the M2M, which is an erroneous conclusion. According to Earley (2015;Chou 2013) the M2M is actually a subset unlike the IoT which tends to encompass a greater phenomenon as it incorporates the Machine-to- Human (M2H) interaction, Augmented Reality (AR), Location-Based Services (LBS) , Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) sensors, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Overall, one can conclude that the IoT has characteristics of intelligence, connectivity, sensory, Energy, safety, and expressing as elaborated above. The practical application of Internet of things on business. The application of IoT has been practiced severally in various institutions despite the privacy concerns, with tremendous results realized and even better ones projected. Cisco Systems Inc., is one of the companies that have since embraced the technology, and participated in its launch in Barcelona in 2012. It has since been noted that the company will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the technology by the year 2020 (O’Leary, 2013). As a result, the company has already started offering the services to other companies in various industries, and it is expected that Cisco could have its sales catapulted by this initiative. In addition to Cisco, Qualcomm comes as the next company that since started employing the IoT technology in its operations. Like Cisco, Qualcomm is listed as another beneficiary of this innovation by the year 2020 just behind the American counterpart (O’Leary, 2013). Then here is the Freescale Semiconductor, which specializes in the design, production and subsequent sales of hardware and software-related products meant for the automobile industry. The company was reportedly engaged in the development of the IoT meant for several automobile players (Chou 2013) Freescale Semiconductor has shown commitment in the development of the said technology, with firm advertising it on its website severally. Also, Motorola has also engaged in the technology in the recent years (Schaller and Mueller, 2009). Computer Company, IBM, has also been named as one of the companies that employ this technology in its production. Normally, the users are not always aware of this technology when buying the machines. However, the company intends to collect all the information about the computer necessary to effect changes (Chang, 2012). As earlier noted, many companies employ this technology to understand the value their products have, monitor the process with an aim to improve it as well as have other vital information about the products. While the issues of privacy keep popping up, this has not deterred a majority of companies, like the ones mentioned above, from pursuing the innovation. In conclusion, the IoT could simply be said to be the latest phenomenon that seeks to offer information by combining machines and the internet. Unlike the M2M, the IoT is more efficient as it encompasses all the other previously developed technologies. It is characterized by intelligence-collection, which inevitably makes it easier and efficient for companies to gather all the needed information to improve their products. Additionally, it has sensory capabilities, which help in diagnosing a problem pretty early before it worsens. These two attributes are vital for any organization since many companies spend a considerable amount of money on Research and Development (R&D). However, with the introduction of the said technology, the gathering of product information could a significant positive impact. As noted in the paper, some companies have already taking the initiative of developing the technology with others embracing it in their operations. The Cisco Systems Inc., Freescale Semiconductor and Qualcomm are some of the companies developing the technology. On the other hand, IBM and others have started employing the technology in their operations. Bibliography Carruthers, K. (2014). 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