What is Iot and How is it Changing Our Lives
We welcome guest writer, Christopher Britton to The Purple Jacket.
Notice how the Internet affects almost every aspect of our daily lives? It doesn’t matter where you are—at home or at work—the Internet impacts everything. There’s actually a name for that and it is on point. This phenomenon is called the Internet of Things or IoT.
The Internet of Things is a concept wherein you can connect any device with an on and off switch to the Internet. Sounds familiar? Yes, we’re talking about mobile phones, laptops, wearable devices, and even coffee makers and washing machines. Broadband Internet, Wi-Fi, and the decreasing cost of technology are all contributing to the spread of IoT.
In short, the Internet of Things is a giant network of connected things and people. Gartner, an analyst firm specializing in technology, estimates that by 2020, there will be over 26 billion connected devices connecting people-people, people-things, and things-things. In the very near future, anything that can be connected will be connected.
The IoT impacts our lives in a greater magnitude that we all can grasp. It makes the workplace, the home, and our cities smarter. Just by zeroing in on how IoT impacts our home living will make you realize that we will all soon have our own Jarvis.
Let’s take a look at how technology is transforming our home and how IoT impacts our lives, one innovation at a time.
Home management made easy
Photo courtesy of Gramophone Maryland via Flickr
The evolution of a smart home is something that always comes up in a discussion on IoT. Electric appliances at home now adjust to your lifestyle. Thermostats and lighting can eventually create an optimal setting based on your daily life. Even before you arrive home, you can turn on and adjust your thermostat.
Things around the house also communicate to one another. When the alarm goes off, the coffee maker starts brewing your coffee. There are even smart refrigerators that will notify you when staples are running low.
And when no one is home, these gadgets and appliances will sense it and turn off automatically, reducing energy consumption in the process. The US Environmental Protection Agency found that using schedules and temperature settings can reduce energy cost by 10% to 30%.
Now, you can worry about the more important things in life such as preparing the best breakfast for your family and sending your kids off to school.
Security at your fingertips
Photo courtesy of informedmag.com
Home security systems keep burglars away. A study found that four out of every five burglars would attempt to find out if security devices are installed and more than half would flee if there is an alarm present.
This is why one very important aspect of home living is safety and security. And since it is physically impossible to guard your home and loved ones 24/7, smart security systems can do that for you.
The Honeywell Total Connect is one such system that takes care of your home security wherever and whenever you are. A smart home with Honeywell Total Connect enables you to monitor, access, and control security using a smartphone. You may view the videos being captured by security cameras in real-time, get notified via text or email when something unusual is happening back home, and lets you manage security settings remotely.
Technology of baby monitoring
Digital parenting is now the thing for parents. Nothing still beats being there for your child every second but that is simply not possible for working parents. But technology has enabled parents to stay connected with their babies wherever they are and whatever it is they are doing.
Smart cribs now have microphones and sensors in them that can detect when a baby is crying. There are apps that let parents monitor their baby’s sleeping patterns. During critical early months, there are wearables for babies so that parents can keep tabs on the baby’s health. Wi-Fi-powered baby monitors, app-controlled thermostats, and other wearable devices help modern parents keep track of their baby’s health and activities.
Being able to monitor your baby is a welcome improvement to modern home living. Family set-ups are no longer what they used to be and knowing that your child is safe and protected at all times gives you peace of mind.
Sensors in our body
Photo courtesy of Intel Free Press via Flickr
People are now more connected to everything than ever before. Wearable technology are integrated into different systems such as phones and social media accounts so that we can track our own activities and the things that matter to us.
It is now possible to monitor sleeping patterns and calories lost during workouts. There are also wearable sensors that can detect environmental factors such as the weather. Smartphones will serve as everyone’s tool to thrive in a digital ecosystem.
Prepared for the journey ahead
Photo courtesy of jay-jerry via Flickr
One of the easily noticeable changes with our daily lives is how our cars are connected to everything. More than GPS, road sensors can now communicate to your dashboard about unsafe driving conditions. Smart cars can now monitor real-time traffic everywhere with the use of satellite navigation systems that gives you rerouting options. Other car sensors will help you monitor engine performance and even find parking spaces. In short, journeys today are safer and a little less stressful. Soon enough, driver-less cars will be available and your daily commute will never be the same again.
The Internet of Things is this generation’s own industrial revolution. Soon, everything will be connected to our phones. Everything we own will be connected to something. Everything will be up there in the cloud. The IoT is already changing the way you live, even if you’re not fully aware of it. And very soon, you could be controlling everything with a wave of your hand.
Christopher Britton Interior Architect, Home Security Consultant and a Writer. He often writes about home improvement, home security and privacy, green and simple living, geometric and structural designs technological home advances and home design. I am into sports and travelling too. You can reach Christopher at christopherbritton011@gmail.com