IoT is one of the most advanced technologies, along with artificial intelligence and 5G. Recently, there has been progress in the adoption of IoT, where products around us, such as home appliances and cars, are connected to the internet and are now equipped with more useful functions.
Moreover, IoT is not just a technology used for end products. For example, in the manufacturing sector, IoT is used to establish “smart factories” that provide efficient production systems.
In this article, we will provide an understandable explanation of what IoT is, how it works, what IoT can achieve, and how IoT can be used.
What is Internet of Things?
IoT is the abbreviation of “Internet of Things”, which literally means “Internet of Things”. Simply put, it is a technology that connects everything around us to the internet.
In the past, the only things connected to the internet were computers such as personal computers and servers. However, with IoT, everything will be connected to the internet and equipped with more useful functions.
For example, IoT allows you to remotely control your home air conditioner using a smartphone or prevent accidents by communicating with each other.
According to the 2020 Information and Communication White Paper published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of IoT devices in the world is expected to increase from approximately 25.4 billion in 2019 to approximately 34.8 billion in 2022.
As the Internet of Things becomes widespread and the number of things connected to the internet increases, our lives will become even richer.
How Does the Internet of Things Work?
The basis of IoT is data collection, which uses various sensors to understand the status and movement of objects and collects them as data.
There are sensors used in IoT.
- Acceleration sensor
- Temperature sensor
- Light sensor
- Image Sensor (Camera)
- Sound sensor
- Pressure sensor
IoT devices are equipped with sensors that match the information they want to collect.
Data collected by various sensors is shared with people and other things via the internet. In the modern age, data is a treasure and when used effectively, it can create new functions and solve problems that did not exist before.
Basic elements for an Internet of Things system
An IoT system is basically composed of three elements: “device”, “cloud” and “application”. If you want to benefit from IoT, you should focus not only on Internet of Things devices but also on other factors.
Here we will briefly explain the three elements that make up an Internet of Thingssystem.
Device
In addition to the various sensors mentioned above, Internet of Things devices are also equipped with communication functions to connect to the Internet. Wireless communication is currently becoming mainstream, but for Internet of Things devices that do not move like large devices, wired communication is also used, as communication is more stable.
Cloud
The cloud is a system that allows you to use various services on the Internet and store data. The data collected by IoT devices must also be accessible to other devices on the Internet. Therefore, data is mostly collected in the cloud.
Application
Applications are software for processing data collected by IoT devices and analyzing and using the processed data. Software development companies provide specialized applications for operations in various sectors such as manufacturing and medical care, making it easier to introduce IoT without having to develop it in-house.
Recently, “IoT platform” services have been provided on the cloud, including communication networks, data collection and storage mechanisms, and applications. Even small and medium-sized businesses will be able to introduce IoT relatively easily if you use it well.
What can be achieved with Internet of Things technology?
What can be achieved with Internet of Things technology can be generally divided into three categories: “Operating objects with IoT”, “Understanding the status of objects with IoT”, and “Communicating objects with IoT”.
Connect objects with IoT.
Using IoT technology, you can operate jobs remotely over the Internet. Common examples include operating home appliances and turning lights on and off using a smartphone. It is also widely used in industrial applications, allowing factory equipment to be operated from outside the home and maintenance of equipment without going to the field.
Understand the status of objects with IoT.
It is possible to understand the status of objects in remote locations by accessing the information obtained by sensors over the internet. For example, IoT is used for applications such as obtaining information about the environment in remote areas, detecting the movement of objects, knowing the current location of objects, knowing the usage status of objects. If you combine this with the function of operating the things I introduced earlier, you can understand the abnormal movement of the equipment in real time and quickly perform maintenance remotely.
Objects communicate with each other with IoT.
IoT technology also allows objects to communicate with each other over the internet. It is an indispensable technology for realizing automation, as it allows objects to automatically exchange information and perform tasks without human intervention. For example, in the field of autonomous driving technology, which is currently attracting attention, technology has been developed that helps vehicles find their way while driving by communicating with other vehicles and various devices on the road.
[Sector-by-Sector] Internet of Things Use Cases
Here, we will introduce Internet of Things use cases by sector. You can learn a lot from case studies not only in your own sector, but also across sectors.
Manufacturing Industry Use Cases
The manufacturing sector, where many companies are trying to establish “smart factories”, is one of the sectors where IoT is actively used.
It can be expected that productivity will increase by converting machinery and equipment in production areas to IoT and collecting data on production efficiency and quality. In addition, Internet of Things has many other applications in the manufacturing industry, such as monitoring operations to understand the operating status of equipment in real time, detect signs of equipment failure, and perform preventive maintenance.
In addition, by incorporating Internet of Things functionality into products, we will be able to offer new solutions that are beneficial to our customers, such as understanding customer usage status, recommending optimal use, and performing timely maintenance.
Application examples in the medical industry.
IoT is called “IoMT (Internet of Medical Things)” in the medical industry. By adding Internet of Things functionality to devices used in medical environments, the health status of patients and the operating status of devices can be understood in real time.
Recently, telemedicine is becoming a reality with the widespread use of wearable devices that allow people to monitor their health status throughout their daily lives.
Use cases in agriculture.
In recent years, “smart agriculture”, which uses advanced technology to save labor and obtain higher quality products in the agricultural field, has been gaining interest. For example, using Internet of Things to detect the temperature, humidity and soil conditions inside a greenhouse and automatically control it to maintain an environment suitable for growing not only crops but also crops, will improve quality and also reduce labor for farmers.
In addition, automatic operation and remote control of agricultural machinery using Internet of Things has been realized, and labor savings in agricultural work are rapidly developing.
Examples of use in the logistics sector.
“Smart logistics”, which uses the latest technologies such as IoT, is also being promoted in the logistics sector. For example, collecting and managing inventory in distribution warehouses used to be a time and labor-intensive task, as each product had to be checked individually, but RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) increased efficiency.
RFID is a small IC chip with wireless communication capabilities, and when read with a special reader, it allows instant product location and inventory determination, automatic product inspection and cash register checks. It is possible to reduce checkout time.
Use cases for small and medium-sized companies.
IoT is being introduced not only by large companies but also by small and medium-sized businesses. For example, in the case of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, many companies are working to understand the operating status of equipment to improve field operations and improve process management.
In addition, the problem of skill inheritance, which is common in the manufacturing industry, can be solved by creating work guides based on information obtained through IoT.
Challenges in introducing Internet of Things
With IoT, companies can achieve many things. However, it is important to remember that IoT is still a developing technology and there are many challenges in its implementation.
Develop relevant technologies and create your business model
In order to benefit from the maximum benefits of Internet of Things, sufficient technologies must be available. For example, in IoT, many things are connected to the Internet and communicate, so if it is to be fully introduced, it will need to work in a 5G environment.
With the features of “high speed, large capacity”, “multiple simultaneous connections” and “low latency communication”, 5G will be an indispensable environment for IoT because it can transfer large amounts of data at high speeds, connect at the same time, and you are unlikely to experience a time delay.
5G is indispensable as a comprehensive IT infrastructure, but in areas that do not require high speeds, such as smart agriculture and smart cities, a communication technology called LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) that reduces power consumption and long distances is essential. Its combination with IoT is also remarkable.
As these related technologies are introduced, it is important to carefully consider whether your business has a business model that is suitable for the IoT era.
Lack of IT human resources that can promote the introduction of IoT.
There is currently a shortage of IT human resources across all sectors and industries in Japan, and many companies are concerned that they do not have the personnel to promote the introduction of Internet of Things in their companies. This trend is especially prominent among small and medium-sized enterprises and is one of the reasons why IoT is not adopted despite the recognition of its importance.
To promote the adoption of IoT, you will need to have extensive knowledge of IoT devices, clouds, applications, etc., as well as skills as a data scientist who can process and analyze the collected data.
If your company finds it difficult to secure such IT personnel, you may need to collaborate with external companies with a strong track record in IoT implementation to recommend products and solutions.
Security measures
In addition to the lack of IT human resources, the security measures taken after the introduction of IoT are also a major concern. As the number of objects connected to the Internet via Internet of Things increases, the risk of information leakage and cyber attacks also increases.
As the number of IoT devices increases, it becomes more difficult to discover security issues. If appropriate security measures are not taken, your confidential information may be leaked without your knowledge, causing significant losses.
When introducing IoT, it is important to take comprehensive security measures and educate employees about IoT devices and network environment.
Summary
IoT is used in every scene around us. Although there are still challenges, IoT is actively introduced in many sectors and companies, and its applications will continue to expand in the future.
In particular, the inclusion of IoT in the manufacturing industry is effective in increasing efficiency and quality. After having basic knowledge about IoT, why not try incorporating Internet of Things into your business?