The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology that enables a wide variety of objects to be networked together to share information and have automated systems, which can greatly improve convenience and efficiency in homes and industries.
We all remember reading in our school textbooks as children that it will soon be possible to turn off the lights we leave on when we rush out the door, or to turn on the air conditioner 30 minutes before the owner arrives on a hot summer day. The science and technology that makes this possible is the Internet of Things, or IoT. The Internet has had an enormous impact on the development of modern society as a medium that connects the world, but until now, its use has been mostly limited to computers and smart devices. The Internet of Things aims to innovatively expand the scope of the Internet and use it in everyday life. In other words, the Internet of Things is a system that networks various types of objects to share information. From home appliances to large-scale mechanical systems, the idea is to have them exchange information with each other to create a fast and convenient automation system.
The Internet of Things isn’t actually a new technology. It’s been used in many industries for a long time. For example, in a factory production system, when there is a shortage of assembly parts or an excessive amount of inventory, information is shared between production machines to automatically adjust the production speed or volume. As the scope of application of these information sharing systems has expanded, the Internet of Things has become known and understood by many people.
What are the things needed to bring the Internet of Things into our lives? The first thing we need is for each object to have an IP address, just like the IP addresses of our computers currently allow us to identify our location and identity. Barcodes attached to items sold in supermarkets or information on various cards can also be said to be unique to each object, but they have a short range of use or a narrow range of applications. Therefore, IP addresses are needed to enable communication between objects in a wider environment. However, since there are too many objects in real life to count, the IPv4 system currently in use does not have enough addresses to allocate, so a system that allows a larger number of IP addresses to be allocated, such as IPv6, must be used.
The fact that each object has a unique IP address does not mean that the Internet of Things can be commercialized. We need a system that allows objects to recognize their surroundings with more precise senses than humans, share this information, and react automatically. This means more accurate temperature measurements, more precise air movement, and systems that turn on air conditioners and open windows without human intervention.
These are very simple examples of the Internet of Things. The significance of the Internet of Things is that it’s not just about one-dimensional relationships between objects, but about the convenience that comes from multiple objects sharing information at the same time. An alarm that goes off simply because the owner has slept for more than a few hours is a one-dimensional relationship. An example of a good use of the Internet of Things is an alarm that receives information that the owner’s flight for a business trip has left 30 minutes late, creates an environment where the owner can sleep for another 30 minutes, and wakes up 30 minutes later.
The Internet of Things has a surprisingly simple structure. It consists of actuators, sensors, and a controller, which uses the internet to share and analyze information. The sensors recognize changes in the environment around them, and the actuators react to the information they receive from the sensors and the controller. Let’s take the previous situation as an example. The controller receives information via the internet that the flight has been delayed, the sensors detect the owner’s condition to provide an environment for a good night’s sleep, and finally, the actuators are the ones that dim the lights or set the alarm to go off 30 minutes later to ensure a good night’s sleep. The technology that utilizes these three components to provide convenience can be called the Internet of Things.
The importance and affordability of the IoT can be seen in the fact that most tech companies such as Apple, Google, and Samsung are paying attention to this technology. In fact, LG has started to provide basic IoT services such as door alarms and remote control of gas at a reasonable price. Microsoft is also investing heavily in IoT services that allow all of its products to connect and share information. Currently, the speed of data services is fast enough to not feel inconvenient, and it is safe to say that the quality of smartphone screens has reached the highest state that the human eye can recognize. With such a saturated technology, the Internet of Things will become a new breakthrough in the technology market, as it has a wide range of applications in medical, fashion, sports, energy, and other fields.
In recent years, various research and development efforts have been made to realize the potential of the Internet of Things. For example, in smart cities, IoT technology is being utilized to improve traffic management, energy efficiency, public safety, and more. In smart homes, the status of home appliances can be monitored and controlled in real time to improve quality of life and save energy. In industry, the IoT is also playing an important role in maximizing productivity and reducing operational costs. The Internet of Things is revolutionizing our lives and industries, and its importance is only expected to grow.
The development of the Internet of Things is more than just a technological innovation; it is fundamentally changing the way we live. These changes will not only provide a better quality of life, but will also drive new business opportunities and economic growth. It is important that we continue to support the advancement of IoT technologies and find innovative ideas to capitalize on them. This will enable us to create a smarter and more efficient future.
