The Internet of Things is one of those terms on everyone's lips.If we call it by its acronym in English, IoT, it may seem somewhat overly technological and far from our world.However, they are just things with Internet access .This will be the boom of connected objects in the coming years.
Connected objects, in numbers
Last year he said goodbye with almost 6,400 million connected objects worldwide.This year, the consultant Gartner estimates that 8,400 million will be reached.In 2020, which is just around the corner, although it sounds future , 20.4 billion.And less than 10% are smartphones. Related
Because connected objects can be anything, not just Smart TVs or the promised autonomous cars.The Internet of Things can also be present in our light bulbs, our clothes, our sports equipment and even our pots. Objects connected there is something for everyone .
And, although sometimes IoT seems like something destined for large industries, it is precisely the end consumer, the one who will buy the most objects with Internet connection.Segun Gartner, of the most 20,000 million connected objects in 2020, about 13,000 million will be owned by users for private use .
The mobile network, to the test
The increase in things connected to the Internet will also mean an increase in network demands .According to Orange's estimates, in the five major European markets (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain) 118 million mobile broadband connections will be reached.In 2016, just over 48 million were added.
Thus, current networks do not seem to be able to meet the needs of billions of objects consuming mobile data.This is where 5G technology comes in, which, it is calculated, will begin to be commercially available in the year 2020.The new technology will involve a profound change in mobile communications, creating a ubiquitous, fast, secure and reliable network .
All this growing demand will also generate a large volume of business .According to the IDC consultancy, the Internet of Things will move more than 7,000 million dollars in 2020.But let's get back to things, What can we expect from connected objects?
The third digital revolution
First came the telecommunications, then the Internet arrived and now we are preparing for a new world of communication between machines and humans .The Internet of Things has been baptized as the third digital revolution and these are the fields where it is already taking shape.
A smart home
At a particular level, IoT applications in the home will involve a multitude of connected objects, from light bulbs that regulate the light (and save on the bill) and intelligent heating systems, to refrigerators that make the purchase, lawn watering Alone or entertainment centers that learn from our tastes, almost any object in our home is capable of connecting to the Internet.
Health, monitored
Both at the industrial level (in hospitals and medical centers) and at the private level (wearables and sports equipment), there are more and more connected objects that control our health and our well-being in detail.
Smart cities
Another of the terms of fashion.Smart cities are already taking shape before our eyes, although much remains to be done.Connected objects such as traffic lights, cameras, public transport or all kinds of sensors, generate a lot of data on the traffic, energy consumption or citizens' habits.The ultimate goal is to analyze them and gain efficiency on a day-to-day basis.
Connected vehicles
We will not have to wait until there are only cars without a driver on our streets.connected are also a reality and are gaining weight in the Internet of Things ecosystem.Currently, different sensors accumulate (and communicate) data on driver behavior, energy consumption or the state of essential elements for safety, like wheels or brakes.
In the future, the IoT will allow cars to communicate directly with each other and with the rest of the objects present on the road.Yes, the Internet of Things will be key when the machines and artificial intelligence are the that feel behind the wheel .And for now, we can start with a pot that controls the humidity of the plant.But the possibilities of connected objects in the future seem endless.
Images: iStock
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