What is the Internet of Things

Internet of Things is a translation of the English expression Internet of Things (IoT),  which describes a scenario in which various things are connected and communicated. This technological innovation aims to connect the items we use daily to the Internet, with the aim of increasingly bringing the physical world closer to the digital world.

The term was born in 1999, when Kevin Ashton, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), wrote the article "The Internet of Things Things." For him, people's lack of time creates the need to connect on the Internet in new ways. These allow the creation of devices that execute tasks that we do not need to do. These devices talk through different protocols within the same network, accompany our activities, wireless mode store information and, from there, help us on a day-to-day basis.

When we talk about "things," we mean anything. really! We are already accustomed to using the internet with smartphones, computers, Smart TVs and video games, but in this context the idea is not to have one more means to connect to the internet itself, but to make the devices more efficient. In addition to contributing to optimize natural resources , for health and other numerous opportunities.

How does IoT work

The Internet of Things is simply about objects connected to each other through the network. They exchange information to facilitate or create various actions. For something like this to happen there are a set of three factors that need to be combined for an application to work within the concept of Internet of Things. These are: devices, the network and a control system.

• The Devices:  They are all those we already know, such as: refrigerators, cars, lamps, clocks, coffee makers, television and others. In these devices it is important that they be equipped with the correct items to provide communication with the other elements. These limits can be chips, internet connection, sensors, antennas among others.
• The Network: It is the means of communication and we are already used to it. Well, they are technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data (3G and 4G).

• The control system: it is necessary for all the data captured from the devices through the network to be processed, so they are sent to a system that controls each aspect and makes new connections.

To simplify, imagine your home. Now think about all the things you have in your kitchen, like the refrigerator. In that scenario, the refrigerator could notify you when a food runs out, you can do research and find markets with the best prices to buy a certain product. I could also suggest different food recipes with the things that are available inside the refrigerator.

And now, thinking beyond, about connectivity; imagine your alarm ringing in the morning, and send a message for the coffee maker to start brewing coffee and notify the curtains to open slowly. Does it seem too futuristic?

Can you understand the concept we talked about earlier in action? Objects connected to each other (the alarm clock and the coffee maker), which exchange information (time to wake up and make coffee) to create an action (ready coffee without worries).