The Internet of Things - One of the most important drivers of digital transformation

What does "Internet of Things" mean, and what makes this technology so special?

The „Internet of Things“ — IoT for short — refers to the networking of "things," meaning objects and devices, via the internet. Whether it's wearables like fitness trackers that measure heart rate and count steps, networked devices and applications in the "smart home" and "connected car" sectors, or the machine-to-machine (M2M) communication of Industry 4.0—the Internet of Things is revolutionizing both business and everyday life and is one of the most important drivers of digital transformation.

IoT applications are currently being used more frequently and will continue to be used more frequently in the future, constantly changing our world: IoT opens up new technological possibilities and solutions with profound implications for our society, our lives, our work, and our economy.

Although this technology has only become established in both the private and industrial sectors in the last ten to fifteen years, it already looks back on a history of over 40 years.

As early as 1982, students at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh developed the first IoT vending machine. Even then, IoT sensors could determine the fill level of the machine and the temperature of the drinks.

This development, which started the ball rolling many years ago and has been further developed and perfected over the years, is now an indispensable part of our lives. Over 30 billion devices worldwide now make our everyday lives and work easier. The valuable data obtained by sensors offers countless possibilities, especially in the industrial sector, for precisely and efficiently designing production processes while simultaneously conserving resources and energy.

How does industry benefit from this digital technology?

As soon as devices are connected to the internet and data is transmitted, value can be extracted from this information. This data is then processed for various applications, such as:

-          Tracking:

Whether it's tracking packages via a delivery service or monitoring goods in production, IoT sensors provide data that is valuable for both private and industrial sectors.

-          Weather data:

Accurate weather data is equally important for agriculture and industry. Real-time data allows for precise measures to be taken regarding harvesting, as well as the storage of food and other goods. Climate change can also be detected in a timely manner using this data, enabling the implementation of corrective measures.

-          Maintenance data:

Continuous monitoring of machine data allows maintenance work to be carried out promptly, avoiding high repair costs and machine downtime, thus ensuring uninterrupted production.

This is just a small sample of the wide range of possibilities that IoT has to offer. In fact, there are virtually no limits to the applications of this technology.

What will the benefits of IoT look like in the future?

Constant efforts are underway to expand the application spectrum of IoT. A key focus is the development of more powerful hardware with greater performance and efficiency.

A milestone in the further development of IoT is edge computing. This technology allows various calculations to be performed directly at the data source. One example is object recognition directly in the camera.

Digital Twins have also now come of age. These make it possible to digitally map complex processes or objects in the real world in a simplified way. This allows models to be created that can be analyzed and manipulated in real time. All interactions with the real-world counterpart are reflected in the digital twin. From product development to production, and throughout the operation and maintenance phases, the use of digital twins therefore plays a crucial role.

Fazit

Internet of Things bedeutet nichts anderes als die Verbindung von Geräten mit dem Internet. Auf dem ersten Blick eine simple Anwendung, die jedoch nicht nur Getränkeautomaten revolutioniert hat, sondern mittlerweile die ganze Welt. Weitere Informationen zum Thema IoT bietet Ihnen unser Online-Vortrag auf der DIH-OST Webseite.