Internet of Things From Hype to Reality

Abstract

Technology is becoming embedded in nearly everything in our lives. Just look around you and you will see how the Internet has affected many aspects of our existence. Virtually anything you desire can be ordered instantly, at a push of a button, and delivered to your door in a matter of days if not hours. We all see the impact of smart phones, smart appliances, and smart cars to cite a few. Today, manufacturers are installing tiny sensors in effectively every device they make and utilizing the Internet and cloud computing to connect such devices to data centers capturing critical information. By connecting things with cloud technology and leveraging mobility, desired data is captured and shared at any location and any time. The data is then analyzed to provide businesses and consumers with value that was unattainable just a decade or less ago. Up to the minute information is provided about the states and locations of services. Further, businesses use the sensors to collect mission-critical data throughout their entire business process, allowing them to gain real-time visibility into the location, motion and state of assets, people, and transactions and enabling them to make smarter decisions. As more objects become embedded with sensors and the ability to communicate, new business models become possible across the industry. These models offer to improve business processes, reduce costs and risks, and more importantly create huge business opportunities in a way that changes the face and the pace of business. Experts agree that the Internet of Things will revolutionize businesses beyond recognition in the decades to come.