Internet of Things : Recent Applications
Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of everyday appliances and household items along with their digital representations connected together in an internet-like structure. Put simply, it means my alarm clock communicate with my refrigerator which can contact the collar on my dog or my wristwatch and so on. Kevin Ashton proposed the Internet of things in 1999.
Developments
Initially, a device was fixed with a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip that became its identifier in a network space. Just like an IP address for a computer on the Internet. Objects and people equipped with RFID identifiers, they could be managed and inventoried by computers. Later, the “tagging” (as this process is called) of things was achieved through such technologies as barcodes, QR codes and digital watermarking.
The next stage in the evolution of the Internet of Things is called the Web of Things. It is a technology in which objects are connected using the existing World Wide Web (WWW). While the Internet of Things uses technologies such as RFID, Zigbee, Bluetooth or 6LoWPAN to connect objects together, the Web of things uses already well-accepted Web standards such as URI, HTTP, HTML5, REST, Web feeds, Javascript etc.
Although these technologies were created for desktop computers, the increase in speed and processing power of embedded devices makes this possible for use in various other devices. More recently the focus has shifted towards research in what is being called “chirp networks” which are networks of devices that use low-power radio to connect to the Internet. This is better because low power radios do not need to use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and cost less.
Applications
There are many advantages of equipping all objects in the world with minuscule identifying devices or machine-readable identifiers. For example, an individual at the supermarket could call his fridge from his wristwatch and the fridge could inform that the level of milk available is not enough; therefore the person should buy more milk. This technology will enable much more powerful control of copyright restrictions and digital restrictions management. For example, a customer buying a disc containing a movie could choose to pay a high price, moderate price or a low fee depending on weather he/she wants the rights to watch that movie for the whole year, for one month, or just one time respectively.
Other fields of applications include: waste management, urban planning, environmental sensing, social interaction gadgets, sustainable urban environment, continuous care, emergency response, intelligent shopping, smart product management, smart meters, home automation, smart events and smart grids.
A wholesome application of all possibilities offered by the Internet of things could ultimately be used to create “smart cities”, like Songdo in South Korea where everything will be connected to everything else. This makes the Internet of things a close reality rather than science fiction.
Criticism
However, scholars and social observers have some reservations and doubts about approaching ubiquitous computing revolution. They claim that technology already influences our moral decision making, which in turns affects human agency, privacy and autonomy and caution against viewing technology merely as a human tool and advocates instead considering it as an active agent.
Another criticism is that the Internet of Things is being developed rapidly without appropriate consideration of the profound security challenges involved and the regulatory changes that might be necessary. As the Internet of Things spreads widely, cyber attacks are likely to become an increasingly physical (rather than simply virtual) threat. Others fear that the IoT has the ability to erode people’s control over their own lives.
