First off, the IoT’s full form is the Internet of Things. The growing buzz about IoT is rightly deserving so it’s an amazing contribution and solution to everything in our lives. The technology promises people to communicate securely to create advanced devices, IoT is here to stay.
What is a simple IoT definition?
IoT stands for the Internet of things. In simple terms, IoT is described as a network of physical objects – “things” – that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet.
Technology is a curious and provoking thing, and humans have been advancing in this field for so long. In the modern era, technology has been able to design and manufacture devices that are so smart that they can sense things and act.
The IoT enables digital systems to access and analyze data from anywhere. Because of this, such digital devices reduce costs and save time. This is the new emerging technology known as the “internet of things.
IoT technology Examples
The IoT is changing people’s lifestyles in so many ways. For instance, there are automated cars on the market that do not need drivers to drive them. These vehicles are programmed to drive themselves, detect traffic and road safety signs, and safely deliver passengers to their destinations.
Several other IoT products, like cyber security scanning devices, smartwatches, and smart home appliances, are also on-trend. These things reduce human effort and do things efficiently. Even your smartphone is an IoT device since it can trace your location, sense traffic on your way to your favorite cafe, and do a lot of other things.
A few of the leading examples of IoT technology includes smart cars, home automation, wearable health monitors like health smartwatch, biometric security systems, disaster management, farming, shopping malls, and more.
IoT has become part and parcel of the modern lifestyle. The technology of the IoT is predominantly used in industries such as transportation, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
How does an IoT device work?
An IoT device is just like any other digital device, except for its capability to communicate and transfer data to other devices without human intervention. IoT devices are wireless and independent in terms of controlling data. Every IoT device is embedded with sensors, cameras, and software.
Your television, which can be operated by your phone, is an IoT device. Every IoT device uses sensors to collect data about its surroundings and send it to other devices through a network. The data is sent to a cloud system that has a level of digital intelligence. Clouds then analyze and process the data. Based on analysis of the data, clouds take actions as they deem appropriate.
IoT devices are all creating a digital revolution. These devices are connected through a network system that facilitates the exchange of information. There are numerous IoT devices, and each of them is designed for industrial or individual purposes.
Automated smart equipment in a factory serves to make the production process less costly and more efficient. At the same time, the fitness band in your hand is used for an individual or customer’s benefit. The IoT devices that are predominantly used for industrial processes are known as IIoT. On the other hand, IoT devices designed for individuals or the general public are called CIoT.
IoT and Engineering
The technology of the IoT is related to different branches of engineering, such as mechanical, electrical, electronics, and communication, etc. With the help of the IoT, engineers can enhance the quality of their operations and simplify the process.
With the help of the IoT, mechanical engineers can make machines that can be controlled without maintaining close physical proximity to the devices. Devices embedded with sensors and actuators have connectivity with other devices over the network, which makes it possible for mechanical engineers to send corrective messages.
This in turn helps in ensuring the quality of mechanical services. Similarly, IoT devices are connected to electrical and electronic engineering too. An IoT device is an electronic device too, which makes the field of electronic engineering very significant. An electronic engineer focuses on designing and manufacturing sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, etc.
Career Opportunities in IoT
In layman’s terms, an IoT engineer designs and manufactures IoT devices and their constituents. IoT engineers are the future of smart cities and the modern, technology-driven world. Therefore, this particular field of technology has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. To be an IoT engineer, a student has to acquire at least a graduate degree in technology and a particular skill set.
Brief eligibility criteria to become an IoT engineer can be presented in the following manner.
- 10+2 with science subjects.
- A graduate degree in engineering courses (IT, computer science, electronics, electricals, etc.)
- A master’s degree in engineering
Apart from educational qualifications, a student needs to have good practical knowledge of data analytics, software development, web development, web design, etc. Upon obtaining the required educational qualifications and skillet, there are several opportunities available to students.
A list of popular job roles in the domain of IoT includes:
- Data architect
- Data scientist
- Data analyst
- Product designer
- A networking engineer
- Cloud engineer
- Testing expert
- Security experts
- Software developer
- Hardware experts.
There’s a profitable reason to invest in learning about IoT as early as possible since this technology will dictate the future. It also creates new and better job opportunities for students across the world. As promising as it sounds, it’s also difficult to learn as students face new challenges with this new technology every day. With IoT-based projects, students will learn better through improved visualization and experimentations.
