IoT is an infrastructure that consists of network of servers that provides connectivity between multiple devices and facilitates man to machine and machine to machine interaction. It collects data from multiple IoT devices, stores it in cloud storage and processes it using technologies such as data analytics and machine learning algorithms. The aim of IoT is to provide automation in various areas such as home automation, automation in manufacturing industry, healthcare, traffic monitoring, hospitality, etc.
Diagram image pending upload by Admin.
5.2 Foundational Components of IoT
There are five foundational components of IoT that make it work.
Sensors/Devices User Interface Cloud Connectivity Data Processing
5.2.1 Sensors/Devices
Sensors or devices are used in IoT system to collect data from our surroundings. This data can come from a large variety of sensors.
These sensors are simple ones but it can be complex as well such as surveillance camera paired with IoT devices like alarm to take action when criminal activity takes place. A device can be more than just sensing various types of data. For example, a smart phone is a device that has multiple sensors which include camera, light, proximity, temperature, heart rate, etc. A sensor can be a standalone device or a multiple device like a smart phone.
Diagram image pending upload by Admin.
Diagram image pending upload by Admin.
5.2.2 User Interface
User interface provides user- friendly interface and functionalities that allows users to access and control the IoT devices.
For examples, a user has a camera installed in his home, he can check the video recordings through a web server. As another example, in case any intruders are sensed, the IoT system can generate an alert to the owner.
5.2.3 Cloud
The data collected from different devices is stored on the cloud storage. Cloud computing or cloud infrastructure is a set of servers that works continuously (24x7) over the Internet. IoT cloud is responsible for data collection from devices, processing of data and management. The data can be accessed remotely from the cloud storage at any time by the users to take decisions.
loT cloud is a network of servers that efficiently handles data at high speeds for a large number of devices and analyzes it.
5.2.4 Connectivity
The data collected by loT has to be sent to the cloud infrastructure through some type of communication media. Devices are connected to the cloud through cellular networks, satellite networks, Wi- Fi, Bluetooth, Wide Area Network (WAN), etc.
5.2.5 Data Processing
Data processing is the process of analyzing and interpreting the data stored in the cloud storage using software. Data processing is responsible for receiving raw data from the IoT devices, processing it and making it available for action. A variety of technologies such as analytics platforms and machine learning algorithms are used for data processing.
Do you know?
An analytics platform is an integration of multiple application software that provides comprehensive capabilities to connect, organize, visualize and analyze data. It helps organizations to build their strategies based on data.
Machine learning algorithms are computational models that allow computers to understand data patterns and make decisions or predict output based on it. These algorithms form the foundation of artificial intelligence.
5.3 Applications of IoT
The following are common applications of IoT.