The Internet of Things: A Complete Guide for beginners

The Internet of Things is a technological trend of connecting the most diverse devices and objects used in everyday life to the worldwide computer network.

Cars, doors, clothing accessories, household appliances… The list goes on and on, as far as your imagination allows.

If someone is creative enough to think of a way to improve the usability of an object by integrating it with the internet, it can be done.

In other words, the Internet of Things can be understood as the mixture between the digital world and the real world , of concrete things.

When everything is connected, will this distinction still make sense?

Obviously, this is a very controversial issue and, throughout this article, we will discuss the subject further.

How does the Internet of Things work?

The Internet of Things works by interrelating elements of the physical world with the virtual world through the exchange of information between these two universes.

This data exchange is done by sensors, software and other tools.

Two examples of this are GPS and Bluetooth , which allow connection between physical devices and virtual systems.

Technologies such as Wi-Fi and 3G/4G/5G are also used to promote this connection.

Cloud data and Big Data are other technologies that contribute to the efficiency of the Internet of Things.

From there, the user can control physical objects with their smartphone from anywhere, for example.

How important is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things is here to make people's lives much easier , speeding up everyday tasks and increasing user comfort.

Thinking about routine household activities, such as making coffee and cleaning the floor, IoT already has intelligent mechanisms to carry out this type of demand, freeing up people's time .

Considering that, with IoT, users can control objects remotely , there is a gain in security.

After all, it is possible to monitor the rooms in a house and check if the stove is off and if everything is working properly.

Expanding this perspective, the concept of IoT also brings important benefits to society.

In the healthcare sector, for example, the Internet of Things makes it easier to monitor patients in real time.

This is important for early diagnosis and for helping people in emergency situations.

The industry also benefits from the agility of IoT, increasing productivity and making production demand more easily met.

According to a study carried out by the consultancy IoT Analytics, it is estimated that, by 2025, we will have around 27 billion devices connected by IoT.

This data reveals the dimension that this technology model will still gain in the world, becoming increasingly important for individuals and society.

Examples of the use of the Internet of Things in everyday life

When we talk about the Internet of Things, many people think of refrigerators, thermostats and lighting connected to a digital system to control a home.

These are real and very interesting examples of IoT, but it can go much further, improving efficiency in companies and impacting other areas of our daily lives.

See below some examples of areas in which technology is used, which helps us to understand in practice what the Internet of Things is.

Agriculture

Agricultural producers rely on devices with sensors that detect important information such as, for example, the temperature and humidity of the air and soil.

This data is integrated with the production management system , helping in decision-making to increase crop productivity.

Industrial automation

Automating machine work has provided a major breakthrough for the industry.

With IoT, these machines start to provide valuable data that goes directly to the production management system.

This way, the engineer can think of ways to further increase the company's agility, productivity and efficiency.

Health

Today, there are a number of automated and connected devices that, for example, measure a patient's heart rate .

Afterwards, they send the information directly to a control system, speeding up service.

Transport and logistics

IoT applied to transportation and logistics is very useful in e-commerce, for example.

This is because this technology facilitates the distribution of products across a wider area of ​​the territory, making deliveries faster .

It also allows you to reduce process costs and reduce shipping costs for customers.

All of this contributes to a better consumer experience .

Furthermore, IoT allows the creation of virtual transportation models to understand the best alternative for each company, avoiding wasting resources.

Manufacturing

In the manufacturing sector, IoT is also an important tool for reducing costs and optimizing the efficiency of the production chain.

In this case, companies benefit from robots and intelligent machines that allow direct use in the creation of products.

Additionally, companies can integrate ERPs and artificial intelligence to streamline processes and avoid manual errors .

Retail

Retail is another area that benefits from IoT.

In the sector, this technology can be used to improve customer experience , create more efficient logistics chains and predict the need for equipment maintenance.

IoT makes it possible to automate processes and equip smart stores .

In this case, consumers can choose their products and pay for their purchase quickly, without human interaction.

Wearable

The wearable sector, or wearable devices , can also benefit from IoT.

One example is the smartwatch, used to monitor patients’ vital signs, for example.

With a device like this, it is possible to record the user's heartbeat and check for abnormalities .

Therefore, the healthcare sector has a lot to gain from this model.

Smart Cities

Just like IoT makes it possible for a smart store to be built, this technology also makes it possible for a smart city to be built.

In practice, the application of IoT to this scenario offers a more comfortable life for citizens and greater well-being for the inhabitants.

Some examples in this sense are:

• Automated garbage collection
• Interconnected transport mesh
• Automated public security system, with smart cameras.

Technologies used by the Internet of Things

All of the applications we just listed rely on specific technologies to make IoT a reality.

They are what make the connection between devices even more efficient.

Let's list the main ones:

• Cloud computing: Data stored in the cloud is essential to support the operations and connections made by IoT. This information helps to refine the direction of connected objects, increasing the efficiency of devices.
• Sensors: These are devices that allow objects from the physical world to be connected to the virtual world. One example is security sensors, which are capable of identifying people's movements and thus triggering a signal for computers to perform some action, such as activating an alarm.
• Artificial intelligence: AI is a great ally of IoT, because it allows IoT-powered devices to quickly process natural language. One example is virtual assistants, such as Alexa, which connects objects in a home
• Machine learning: This technology allows machines to learn certain behavior patterns through use. This enables IoT devices to perform tasks intelligently, based on what has been learned.