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More and more devices go online every day to share information with other pieces of equipment, such as how the HVAC system is functioning in a warehouse or sensor readings that indicate someone is breaking into a home. These are just a couple of examples of the Internet of Things.
As ubiquitous as they are, the technology is still in its infancy. Some 87% of people polled said they have never heard of the "Internet of Things," notes Forbes.
While the Internet as most people view it is designed to connect us with one another, the Internet of Things amounts to a whole new ball game. Enabling physical devices to communicate with one another in an immediate and automated fashion opens up a host of new possibilities.
Consider that tens of billions of devices are expected to be connected to the Internet by 2020, according to the Globe and Mail. Just a year ago, approximately 3.8 billion devices were connected, from toasters and wind turbines to heart monitors, smoke detectors and smart cars.
You can get a better feel for the IoT by categorizing it three ways:
- Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Devices, such as a medical implant that automatically checks in and sends data to a hospital's monitoring station
- Wearable Items (such as smartglasses or an Apple Watch)
- Smart Devices, including every light in your home, all motion sensors and cameras, thermostats and front and back door locks
At home or in an organization's break room, a refrigerator built with IoT capability could include sensors that keep track of how much a container of milk weighs as people pour themselves drinks during the day.
You could receive an automated message reminding you to pick up a gallon on your way home from work or school. Or, the message could populate into your family's shared shopping list online. For even greater convenience, an IoT device could update your shopping list with milk for your next automated order for delivery.
Sensors in your child's toothbrush can tell you whether he or she has picked it up today, helping you spot patterns of hygiene neglect. And speaking of health, Forbes pointed out that the market for wearable devices increased by 223% in 2015, with consumers buying 3.6 million Apple Watches and 4.4 million Fitbit exercise tracking devices. You can expect more people to purchase and use IoT devices. Someone will have to develop the software to make them all communicate with one another. You can capitalize on this new era of the IoT by partnering with IoT software development professionals.
Developing an Internet of Things application with IoT development experts
Could your current product or system benefit from an Internet of Things application? Do you have physical devices that would be more powerful, provide relevant data, or communicate effectively with other products or systems, if they were made smarter and connected? If you are starting to think this way, the next step if to figure out how you will take care of the technical aspects. You probably already have engineers on staff who know quite a bit about the products and systems you've already developed, but are not experts in embedded systems or the Internet of Things. Or, the programmers on your staff are already tasked to the limit. In both cases, arranging for IoT application development by professionals will typically be your best option.
Before you begin your project, it's crucial to find developers who actually know what they're doing with IoT systems. For example, Software Design Solutions is known in the embedded software development community for its expertise in building new apps for the Internet of Things. We have even built tools that IoT developers use, such as our flash memory programming software, which makes things easier for coders and clients. Developing software tools like these are key to keeping Software Design Solutions on the cutting edge of technology.
Are you ready to begin a new IoT project? For more information on how we develop applications for IoT devices or to connect with our team about embedded software and IoT system architecture consulting, please contact the professionals at Software Design Solutions today.
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