The Internet of Things, or IoT, is the interconnection via the Internet of computer-based systems embedded in devices and physical objects which enables these things to connect and exchange data over a network without requiring human-to-computer interaction, thus increasing the opportunities for integration of the real world into computing devices.
We see connected devices almost everywhere now — in our homes, vehicles, and office spaces. IoT technology is also creating amazing integrations with other areas of technology such as artificial intelligence. Gartner predicted that by 2020, 95% for electronics for new product designs will outfitted with Internet of Things technology.
As the importance of the Internet of Things grows, it will demand new technology and principles that will have a very extensive impact on businesses, organizations, and society at large.
Here are ten of the latest Internet of Things innovative technologies.
1. Internet of Things platforms.
An IoT platform is multi-layer technology, consisting of hardware, software, connectivity, and a user interface, that enables and facilitates management, data flow, communication, application functionality, and automation of connected devices.
There is now an increasing number of applications that are focused on IoT or have IoT elements. For example, the SAP Cloud Platform offers everything needed to create an IoT application. Even the cloud computing company, Salesforce, has also created an IoT integrated system which makes IoT data accessible to almost everyone.
2. Internet of Things operating systems.
Traditional operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac iOS, or Linux are not designed for IoT software and applications and cannot handle them. This has given rise to IoT OS, operating systems which are designed to perform with the limits of IoT devices.
Since not every IoT application is readily made for every single usage of OS, there is much variety in how the IoT space works. There is a wide range of both open source and commercial operating systems that are powered by Internet of Things technology. Some of the IoT operating systems out there are Windows IoT, Ubuntu Core, Android Things, Fuchsia OS, and RIOT.
3. Internet of Things device management.
IoT device management is the process of managing, configuring, and monitoring device firmware and software, as well as diagnostics, updates, security, and connectivity. IoT device management is very quickly becoming an area of opportunity.
Orbis Research released a report in 2017 titled “Global Internet of Things (IoT) Device Management Market Segmentation, Size, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts” that found that by 2022, North America is expected to lead the IoT device management platform market, boosting it to $958 million. Additionally, by the same year, the report noted that PaaS and SaaS based IoT device management solutions will lead the market and reach an estimated $3.1 billion.
4. Real-time event stream processing for Internet of Things.
Event stream processing, or ESP, is a set of technologies, involving visualization, databases, middleware, and processing languages, which is designed to assist the construction of event-driven information systems. Real-time stream processing is needed to handle the data from devices in the Internet of Things.
Google Cloud provides an interesting diagram of the architecture of real-time stream processing for IoT. Take a look below:
Google Cloud “Architecture: Real-Time Stream Processing for IoT” – https://cloud.google.com/solutions/architecture/real-time-stream-processing-iot
5. Short-range IoT networks.
Short-range wireless networks, which include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are currently used for the connectivity of IoT devices, and will continue to dominate the field for several more years. When it comes to understanding short-range IoT networks, the consumption of power levels as well as the cost and internet connectivity are of top importance when considering a short-range network.
6. Wide-area IoT networks.
Wide area networks, or WANs, are telecommunication and internet networks that extend over a large geographical area. Emerging WAN standards may dominate IoT connectivity in the future. A wide area network design with wireless connections is made possible through low power wide area networks, satellite, or cellular connectivity.
7. IoT standards.
Internet standards are technically mature specifications of methodology that are useful in some or all parts of the Internet. While IoT standards are still developing, there are several that have begun to emerge and are expected to become mainstream in the IoT technology industry over the next few years. Some of these include 6LoWPAN, Contiki, and Sigfox.
When it comes to IoT standards, companies in the space must guard against thinking that if a platform meets a certain standard, it is the best platform. Michael Tennefoss, vice president of strategic partnerships at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, said, “The reality of a standards committee is that it’s actually just as much a commercial battlefield as the open market is. Some technologies are less proven than others, and so the goal of the standards effort is to legitimize the technology and make customers feel safe that they can go ahead and use it, as opposed to it being proprietary and a closed system that maybe won’t be developed over time.”
8. IoT ecosystem.
IoT ecosystems are business communities consisting of enterprises and vendors and comprised of entities that send requests or commands over the network to IoT devices. The IoT ecosystem is expected to make costs more reasonable and protocols more accessible and secure. Additionally, it will allow people to gain access remotely more easily. IoT ecosystems are expected to have an impact on nearly every industry in a few years.
9. IoT security.
Security in the age of the Internet of Things is one of the top concerns for connected networks and devices. Cyber-attacks are no longer just on the rise, but they are very prevalent throughout the universal digital infrastructure. With the use of IoT products spreading and the way IoT products are so close to our lives, security is one of the most important areas of innovation in IoT. However, if not understood and implemented correctly, it could also represent one of the greatest obstacles to the continued growth of IoT.
10. IoT processors.
Processors are the logic circuitry in computing devices that process the instructions given to the computer. Different IoT devices use specific types of processing which define many of their capabilities. Processor choices have important implications on IoT devices.
Companies should be prepared to handle the emerging innovations in Internet of Things technologies, and remain informed about the aspects of these innovations as IoT grows in importance.
