What is an IoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is essentially a variety of clearly identifiable electronic devices that are capable of recognizing some essential information and communicating it with another device on an Internet-based network. In other words, the term covers networked “smart” devices that are able to collect data thanks to built-in sensors. [1] This technology is evolving or spreading at an accelerating pace.

Possible areas of use
Smart ("smart") devices can be household or healthcare devices, office devices, but also technologies that can be worn on our bodies (eg smartwatches).

One of the practical applications of the Internet of Things is the so-called smart home, that is, a collective concept of electronics embedded in certain physical objects and devices that are network-connected to each other and to the operator, made possible by software and sensors.

Traffic safety is increased by connected cars. Such cars have a permanent internet connection and can receive real-time information about the movement of other vehicles in their vicinity, the general traffic situation, the weather, etc. In the event of an accident, the built-in automatic emergency call system notifies the designated center, which, if necessary, sends assistance to the driver in distress, whose whereabouts he knows. It is possible to log in to the service remotely and to troubleshoot and diagnose via the network.

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is very promising. In this case, IoT devices play a major role in production and transportation. More sensitive, more precise sensors are used in the industry than in home use, and location-capable technology is also more common. The industry needs to process a much larger amount of data, characterized by Big data, machine learning and cloud computing. Companies in Hungary are already dealing with IIoT. One such example is MOL Magyar Olaj- és Gázipari Nyrt., Which connects its meters for measuring water, electricity, gas and heat to a network in order to monitor and control consumption. However, the explosive growth of IIoT is yet to come, despite the technological and market conditions. The reason for this is that the expertise and willingness to make decisions in companies is not yet sufficient for the rapid spread of technology. It is difficult to find the area where IIoT brings the most benefits and business professionals are not prepared to receive and apply the technology.


History
The first “Internet of Things” was a tool developed by a couple of avid technical geniuses at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA in the early 1980s. David Nichols, a student in the Department of Computer Science, found that the Coca-Cola vending machine was too far from the department and was reluctant to walk there just to find out there was no more cola in the vending machine or the drink was just hot. He knew there was a technical solution. At his request, two students, Mike Kazar and Ivor Durham, and John Zsarnay, one of the department’s research engineers, created a structure that could be used to remotely determine if there was cola in the machine and if it was cold enough.

However, the name "Internet of Things" was first used by Kevin Ashton in 1999. As Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble, Ashton wanted the company to introduce RFID technology to track the movement of products, inventory. Since the internet was a big bang back then, he thought that if he included the word "internet" in his presentation, he had a better chance of success. Ashton, one of the founders of the Auto-ID Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has presented his presentation on RFID technology to a number of companies in search of sponsors. By 2003, the Auto-ID Center already had 103 sponsors.

The term Internet of Things (IoT) spread worldwide in the 2010s. In 2011, market research firm Gartner included IoT as an emerging technology in its Hype-Cycle report. In 2014, Google also cast its vote in favor of IoT: it acquired Nest Labs, which developed wi-fi-capable products with sensors. That same year, IoT was the main theme at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Various research in 2018 put the number of IoT devices at between 7 and 10 billion.

Smart city projects using the Internet of Things technology have been launched as an urban development concept. In Hungary, in 2017, the government designated the city of Monor as the location for the implementation of the smart city pilot project.

(Source: Wikipedia)