You have probably already heard of IoT - the acronym for Internet of Things, a technology model that seems recent, but is not. After all, the expression was coined over 20 years ago by Kevin Ashton, a British researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

While contextualizing this technology is no simple task, it is undeniable how present it is in various moments and processes of our daily lives, ranging from software development to the use of smart devices capable of discovering the habits and customs of their users.

Want to understand what IoT is and what its applications are? Then, keep reading and check out the article that the CodeBlog team has prepared for you.

After all, what is IoT?

In a few words, Internet of Things (IoT) is a type of capability present in various devices (such as appliances, household electronics, and even cars) that enables them to establish a connection to the internet to collect and transmit information through the cloud.

These devices, which clearly reflect the intensification of digital transformation, are used in various everyday situations and assist both in civilian tasks and corporate processes. Below, we list some examples of IoT application to illustrate its varied functionalities.

Home

When applied to home automation, the Internet of Things makes communication between household appliances, light bulbs, controls, gates, and locks smart, allowing them to be monitored and controlled from a smartphone.

Wearables

The so-called "wearable equipment" such as smart wristbands, watches, and headphones integrate the concept of interconnectivity, the foundation of the internet of things.

Healthcare

In this area, IoT offers numerous facilities. One of them is the assistance in integration with the patient's medical record, which allows records to be quickly updated according to their clinical status, promoting a more agile and personalized service.

Agriculture

In this type of activity, the application of IoT can help farmers track water usage, nutrient density, and adjust the amount of fertilizers and pesticides used.

In addition, IoT sensors monitor temperature, soil moisture, and air humidity, automatically activating irrigation systems when necessary.

All these solutions ensure that farmers improve agricultural management systems and, consequently, get better yields during harvest.

How does IoT work?

Generally speaking, IoT devices feature mechanisms that allow connections in networks such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data such as 3G, 4G, and the recent 5G.

Like all other technological solutions, IoT has undergone various types of updates and integrated different functions from other resources into its operating methods, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which involves a set of systems or machines that mimic human intelligence to perform tasks, and can iteratively improve based on the information they collect.

In this way, devices access various data stored in the cloud and learn about them, through the concepts of Machine Learning (a subdivision of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science that uses data and algorithms to mimic the way humans learn, gradually improving its accuracy).

In addition, many devices also invest in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and can recognize writing via voice command or human language to understand and meet requests.

However, it is important to highlight that, as much as IoT is linked to AI, the concepts are distinct and each has its own characteristics, applications, and singularities.

5G and the Internet of Things

The 5G network has already discreetly started its operations in Brazil, but, even so, the expectation is that in the future, as this technology spreads, it will revolutionize connections, ensuring more stability, agility, and security.

Regarding IoT, 5G will also have its contributions, since the fifth generation of mobile networks will allow greater integration between the data present on devices. This indicates that, in the future, communication between fixed and mobile objects should occur more efficiently, due to the new features.

Another point that should be mentioned is the stability of 5G, which already helps in updating information in real time and can benefit numerous sectors such as healthcare, enabling remote procedures, and transport, thus promoting better monitoring of road conditions and traffic in general.

We hope this article has helped you, dear reader, to understand IoT, its importance, and some examples of its functionality.

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