Internet Of Things And Other Things

I welcome all who have read my recent articles and the one who have not , they are also welcomed.I hope you like this one titled as "Internet of things and other things".This talks about IoT and other things which refer to the other concepts linking with IoT along with the benefits and disadvantages or harmful effects of IoT relating to human existence will also be discussed here.

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What is an Internet/Internet connection?

It is basically a means to connect a computer to any other computer in the world through dedicated routers and servers.So these connected objects are connected over the internet and hence can share and receive any kind of information.

"The internet is a globally connected network system that uses TCP/IP to transmit data through various types of media".

What are things in IoT?

A thing in the Internet of things (IoT) is an entity or a physical object that has a unique identifier or have an embedded system and ultimately the ability to transfer data over a network.

Let's discuss some examples of things in IoT.

1. Heart monitoring implants
2. Bio‐chip transponders on farm animals,
3. Automobiles with built‐in sensors.

There are current market examples which includes smart thermostat systems and washer/dryers that utilise WiFi for remote monitoring. 

Now, as we have understood IoT. So let's combine the two words first through the picture and then through words.

Internet+Of+Things= Involves extending Internet connectivity from standard desktop, smartphones, laptops like devices to any range of traditionally dumb or non-internet-enabled physical devices and everyday objects which can interact over the internet and can also be remotely monitored and controlled.

Let's understand this further by a simple and interactive video.

'Internet of things' abbreviated as IoT also sometimes referred to as the 'Internet of Everything' (IoE) is basically a computing concept, an interconnection through internet of these devices embedded in objects of everyday life and allowing them to send and receive data.

Key Concepts and Skills

IoT devices have been widely adopted across a range of industries.These includes healthcare, automotive, retail, manufacturing, and building automation etc.

1. Hardware

The heart of IoT consist of billions of interconnected things, or devices with attached sensors and actuators that sense and control the physical world.In addition to network connectivity to transmit the data they collect and typically require some basic processing and storage capabilities which is provided by a micro-controller 

IoT devices are prototyped using micro-controller platforms.Some of them, are Arduino, or single-board-computers like the Raspberry Pi, with PCBs developed at a later stage.

Prototyping requires circuit design skills, micro-controller programming.It also require an understanding of hardware communication protocols like serial, I2C, or SPI which are commonly used to establish communication between the micro-controller and the connected sensors and actuators. The embedded programs are developed using C or C++.These days Python and JavaScript are also becoming popular for prototyping IoT devices.

2. Networking

Connectivity is another important aspect of IoT. It helps devices to communicate with each other and also with applications and services which are running in the cloud.

Network design and management are the essential skills within IoT and mesh networks are frequently adopted in IoT due to it's robust and highly scalable nature.

Fig:-Mesh Network

Mesh networks as shown above are complex in nature and usually increase latency, power requirements of the network.

Developers should have a working knowledge of technologies, standards and protocols which include Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Low Energy Bluetooth, cellular, and RFID technologies used in consumer applications etc. Also, (LPWAN) technologies (Low Power Wide-Area Network like LoRa, SigFox and NB-IoT (narrow band IoT)

These offer lower cost, low-power long-range wireless connectivity, which are better suited to large-scale and industrial IoT applications.

3. Application design and development

IoT devices may or may not have their UIs (user interfaces).Web and mobile applications provide UIs for interacting and consuming data from IoT devices.Web and mobile applications are usually developed using high-level languages such as Java, Node.js and Swift are among the top languages used for IoT app development.

Voice-based, Gesture-based interfaces and GPS programming skills are in particular demand because of usage in IoT applications such as wearables and smart vehicles and are also location-aware.These are gaining traction within IoT, particularly for home automation, while augmented reality interfaces provide exciting possibilities for overlaying IoT data over the physical world.

4. Security

Security is the biggest concern when it comes to IoT. Critical issues related to security includes data ethics, privacy and liability.

There is the need to secure:-

• The physical and network access to devices and their data
• The applications and services with which the devices communicate
• The networks themselves

On a daily basis, millions of new devices connect and hence, the number of potential points of attack also grows daily. 

With so much at stake, security engineering skills are highly regarded within IoT including threat assessment, ethical hacking, encryption to ensure data integrity, securing network architectures and applications.Also, event monitoring, activity logging, and threat intelligence.

5. Business intelligence and data analytics

As the number devices in IoT transmitting data increases, the term big data really becomes big data.Developers will need big time data management skills to securely and reliably ingest, store, and query the vast quantities of heterogeneous data originating from these devices.

Many IoT devices generate latency so it is necessary to filter or discard irrelevant data. Key technologies and platforms for data analytics includes Hadoop, Spark, and NoSQL databases.

6. Machine Learning and AI

IoT developers must possess Machine learning and AI skills as Intelligent big data analytics involves applying cognitive computing techniques drawn from the data mining, modeling, statistics, machine learning, and AI.

These techniques can be applied in real-time for predictive analysis or to autonomously make decisions in response to incoming data. It can also be applied to historical data to identify patterns or anomalies in the data.

The technologies involved in developing IoT applications are evolving at a great pace.So, diverse set of skills should be required by developers and also be willing to adapt to new processes, platforms and tools.

IoT World and Architecture

IoT architecture consists of system of many elements such as sensors, protocols, actuators, cloud services, and layers.There exist 4 stages of IoT architecture due to it's complex nature.

Also, in order to track the consistency of the system, Internet of Things architecture layers are distinguished. This should be taken into consideration before the IoT architecture process start.

There are three IoT architecture layers:-

1. The client side which is IoT Device Layer

2. Operators on the server side which is IoT Gateway Layer

3. A pathway for connecting clients and operators which is IoT Platform Layer

So, it's crucial to address the needs of all these on all the stages of IoT architecture.There are 4 fundamental features of sustainable IoT architecture such as functionality, scalability, availability, and maintainability. Without these conditions, the result of IoT architecture is a failure.Hence. above-mentioned requirements are addressed in 4 stages of IoT architecture.

The detailed description of these stages can be found on the diagram below:-

IoT architecture consists of 4 stages

• Sensors and actuators
• Internet getaways and Data Acquisition Systems
• Edge IT
• Data center and cloud.

Some Important Terms related

1. MQTT

It is a machine‐to‐machine (M2M)/IoT connectivity protocol. It is useful for connections with remote locations.For example, it has been used in a range of home automation, small device scenarios,sensors which are communicating to a broker via satellite link, over occasional dial‐up connections with healthcare providers, mobile applications because of its small size, low usage of power, data packets of minimum sizes, and efficient distribution of information to one or many receivers.

• It provides reliable messaging over unreliable network such as mobile
• It is suitable for industrial environment with computationally "challenged" devices, having restricted power due to solar or battery power, on extremely low bandwidth and often brittle RF communications including satellite
• To avoid heavy unnecessary workloads and bandwidth consumption due to all the request/response polling‐based monitoring, It follows a pub/sub so as to avoid heavy unnecessary workloads and bandwidth consumption due to all the request/response polling‐based monitoring
• This protocol enables devices to open a connection

2. Mosquitto

• It provides a lightweight server implementation of the MQTT and MQTT‐ SN protocols, which are written in C.
• Often Sensors and actuators, which are the sources and destinations of MQTT and MQTT‐SN messages, can be very small and lacking in power. This also applies to the embedded machines where they are connected and where Mosquitto could run.
• The current implementation of Roger Light's Mosquitto has an executable in the order of 120kB such that it consumes around 3MB RAM while connecting 1000 clients connected. There have been reports of successful tests with 100,000 connected clients at modest message rates.

Benefits of IoT

Here are some advantages of IoT:

1. Data: The more the information is with us, the easier it would be to make the right decision. For example-Knowing what to get from the market while you are out, without having to check, will not only saves time but is convenient as well.

2. Tracking: Track of things at home can be done both on the basis of the quality and the viability. Knowing the expiration date of products improves safety and quality of life.

3. Time: The time gets saved in monitoring and the number of trips done otherwise would be tremendous.

4. Money: The technology could replace humans taking care of monitoring and maintaining supplies.The financial aspect is the best advantage of the IoT concept.

5. Efficient resource utilization: If we know the function of the device and the way that how each device work then efficient resource utilization can be done along with the monitoring of natural resources.

6. Minimize human effort: As the devices of IoT interact and communicate with each other hence, they minimize the human effort.

7. Enhance Data Collection

8. Improve security: The system can be made more secure and efficient.

9. Communication: IoT encourages the communication between devices, known as Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication. Hence, the physical devices are able to stay connected and this leads to total transparency with lesser inefficiencies and greater quality.

10. Automation and Control: There is a large amount of automation and control in the workings as physical objects getting connected and controlled digitally and centrally with wireless infrastructure.Without human intervention, these machines are able to communicate with each other for faster and timely output.

It can be used for patient monitoring (various types of wireless sensors are installed on the patient body which communicate with the IoT network) and hence providing all the required information of the patient under treatment (Elderly care).

Applications of IoT/Uses of IoT

IoT has many applications in various areas, but let us discuss the most important ones.

Smart Home

This application of IoT rank highest among the all applications of IoT. IoT concept is used in home security devices such as security alarm, camera, sensors, door lock etc. are used in home automation environment.These are monitored and controlled either locally or remotely using easy to use applications available on mobile phones or smartphones.

Wearables

Just like smart homes, wearables also are among the potential IoT. Every year Apple smartwatch, Sony Smart B Trainer, LookSee bracelet, or the Myo gesture control is awaited.

Smart City

Smart cities, is a big innovation, from water distribution and traffic management to waste management and environmental monitoring. It is becoming so popular as it tries to remove the discomfort and problems of people who live in cities like city-related problems, comprising of traffic, reducing air and noise pollution, and ultimately helping to make cities safer.

Smart Grids

Smart grids are another area of IoT technology. A smart grid promises to extract information on consumers behaviour and electricity suppliers in an automated fashion. This improves the efficiency, economics, and reliability of electricity distribution. There are 41,000 monthly Google searches proving this concept’s popularity.

Industrial Internet

One way to think of the Industrial Internet is by looking at connected machines and devices in industries such as power generation, oil, gas, and healthcare. It also makes use of situations where unplanned downtime and system failures can result in life-threatening situations. Devices such as fitness bands for heart monitoring or smart home appliances(a system embedded with the IoT).These systems are functional, provide ease of use,however are not reliable as they do not create emergency situations in case of a downtime.

Connected Car

Connected car technology is very vast and an extensive network consisting of multiple sensors, antennas, embedded software, and technologies.These assist in communication to navigate in the complex world having responsibility of making reliable decisions efficiently with accuracy and speed.

Connected Health (Digital Health/Telehealth/Telemedicine)

IoT has various applications in healthcare which ranges from remote monitoring equipment to advance and smart sensors to equipment integration. It has the potential to improve about physicians delivering care and also keeping patients safe and healthy.

Healthcare IoT can boost patient engagement and satisfaction allowing patients to spend more time interacting with their doctors. From personal fitness sensors to surgical robots, IoT in healthcare brings new tools with the latest technology helping in developing better healthcare. IoT helps to revolutionize healthcare providing pocket-friendly solutions for both the patient and healthcare professional.

Smart Retail

Retailers have also started adopting IoT solutions which improves store operations, increasing purchases, reducing theft, enabling inventory management, and ultimately enhancing the consumer’s shopping experience.

Smart Supply Chain

Supply chains have already been getting smarter as they offer solutions to problems like tracking of goods on the road or in transit or helping suppliers exchange inventory information.

For an IoT system, factory which contains embedded sensors communicate data about various parameters such as pressure, temperature, and utilization of the machine. For performance optimization, the IoT system can also process workflow and change equipment settings.

Smart Farming

Smart farming has the potential of becoming an important application field, specifically in the agricultural-product exporting countries.

The number of farming operations is usually remote and the large number of livestock that farmers work on, all of this can be monitored by the Internet of Things and this can revolutionize the way farmers daily routine operation. But, this idea is yet to reach a large-scale attention. Nevertheless, the IoT applications should not be underestimated.

Apart from these applications as mentioned above, IoT is also used in asset and individual tracking.It is also used in inventory control, energy conservation, shipping etc. 

As we all aware of the benefits and the applications of IoT, now let us discuss about the hot and the critical topic which is Threats of IoT.

Threats of IoT

Anything that is connected to the Internet is open to threat.As the Internet of things have a great set of benefits, it also creates a significant set of challenges and threats. Some of them are as discussed below:

1. Privacy/Security

This is the most important aspect and can never be ignored,Let us understand this first by a video.Anything that is connected to the Internet is open to threat.

Multiple vendors are involved in IoT as it is managed and run by multiple technologies.Due to this fact, privacy is a concern. Hence, security algorithms and certain precautions should be taken by the users to avoid any security related threats in IoT network.

With all data being transmitted in IoT, the risk of losing privacy increases. For instance, how well encrypted will the data be kept and transmitted with? I think we do not want our neighbours or employers to know what medications are we taking or our financial situation?

2. Vulnerability

The vulnerability is the most basic and easy-to-pick threat to IoT devices.Vulnerability is of two types: hardware vulnerability and software vulnerability.

A hardware vulnerability is tough to detect or penetrate. Even more difficult to repair the damage.Software vulnerability depicts a poorly written algorithm or a line of code with a backdoor. This backdoor can easily provide access to intruders.

3. Easy Exposure

It is the most fundamental issues, In most of the cases, IoT devices are not resilient to third-party exposure so they either lay open or easily accessible to anyone.Hence this means that an intruder can easily steal the device and can connect the device to another device containing harmful data.

4. Cyber reconnaissance

In this case, an intruder uses cracking techniques and malicious software to conduct surveillance on the targeted user to either gain access to secret information on the existing systems.

5. Brute force attacks on passwords

In this case, intruders make an attempt to guess the user’s passwords.This is done by either with the help of an automated software, making innumerable attempts until the access is achieved.

6. Stalking or tracking

In this case, user’s each and every move can be tracked or traced by the UID of the IoT device. So by tracking a user gives away their precise location in time.

7. Controlled Attacks

Denial of Services (DoS), Trojans, or viruses are some of the examples of controlled attacks. In these cases, intruders develop a particular virus, it is programmed to function in a certain manner in order to destroy the host device.

8. Loss of jobs

Implementation of IoT leads to loss of jobs. Hence, unskilled employees who do not cope with latest trends in hardware and software arena are at risk of losing their job. Jobs relating with inventory control and automated machines such as ATM/check-in check-out machines are the ones coming under this category. 

9. Complexity

The IoT is complex network with diversity. So, any failure, bugs and power failures in the software or hardware will cause serious consequences.

10. Compatibility 

As there is no standard for tagging and monitoring with sensors, hence a uniform concept like the USB or Bluetooth is required.

11. Safety

There can be a chance that the software can be hacked therefore personal information can be misused. The possibilities are endless. Hence, all the safety risks becomes the consumers' responsibility.

Some of other threats are as follows:-

• Insecure Web Interface
• Insufficient Authentication/Authorisation
• Insecure Network Services
• Lack of Transport Encryption-This deals with data being exchanged with the IoT device in an un-encrypted format
• Privacy Concerns
• Insecure Cloud Interface-This point concerns security issues related to the cloud interface which is used to interact with the IoT device.
• Insecure Mobile Interface
• Insufficient Security Configurability- It is present when users of the device have limited or no ability to alter its security controls. The risk of IoT device getting attacked allowing unauthorised access to the device or the data
• Insecure Software/Firmware-The lack of ability for a device to be updated is defined as a security weakness.Devices should have ability and get updated when vulnerabilities are discovered
• Poor Physical Security

So these are the threats of IoT.

"Technology Takes Control of Life".Our lives will be controlled by technology, and will be dependent on it.Why should we care?

Consider some scenarios Imagine a scenario when:

Your fridge can identify that you have no milk and food; it contacts the supermarket and orders the and also informs you by sending a message on your phone!

Your alarm rings; you switch it off. As soon as you switch off your alarm, it conveys to the geyser to heat water and also the coffee maker starts brewing coffee!

You are on your way and you use an app on your mobile to switch on the lights, the AC in your home, and tune the TV to your favourite channel to welcome you.

A "smart" refrigerator could even alert owners when their food is about to reach their expiry date.

May be all these scenarios be true some day because of IoT.

In conclusion, it can be said that IoT has the potential to increase the availability of information at a great pace and is likely to modify companies and organizations in virtually every industry around the world. 

At the end, I leave you all with a presentation which will give you essence of the this blog and refresh every concept in your mind.

Think...Think...some other scenarios if you can and post in the comment section...

Will wait for your feedback, likes, shares and comments....