The ​Internet of things​ (​IoT​) is the network of physical devices, vehicles, and other items

embedded​ with ​electronics​, ​software​, ​sensors​, ​actuators​, and ​network connectivity​ which enable
these objects to collect and exchange ​data​.[1]​
​ [2]​[3]
The IoT allows objects to be sensed or controlled remotely across existing network
infrastructure,​[4]​ creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into
computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit in
addition to reduced human intervention.​[5]​[6]​[7]​[8]​ When IoT is augmented with sensors and
actuators, the technology becomes an instance of the more general class of ​cyber-physical
systems​, which also encompasses technologies such as ​smart grids​, ​virtual power plants​, ​smart
homes​, ​intelligent transportation​ and ​smart cities​. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its
embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the existing ​Internet
infrastructure. Experts estimate that the IoT will consist of about 30 billion objects by 2020.​[9]
Typically, IoT is expected to offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services that
goes beyond ​machine-to-machine​ (M2M) communications and covers a variety of protocols,
domains, and applications.​[10]​ The interconnection of these embedded devices (including ​smart
objects​), is expected to usher in automation in nearly all fields, while also enabling advanced
applications like a smart grid,​[11]​ and expanding to areas such as smart cities.​[12]​[13]
"Things", in the IoT sense, can refer to a wide variety of devices such as heart monitoring
implants, ​biochip​ transponders on farm animals, cameras streaming live feeds of wild animals in
coastal waters,​[14]​ automobiles with built-in sensors, DNA analysis devices for
environmental/food/pathogen monitoring,​[15]​ or field operation devices that assist firefighters in
search and rescue​ operations.​[16]​ Legal scholars suggest regarding "things" as an "inextricable
mixture of hardware, software, data and service".​[17]
These devices collect useful data with the help of various existing technologies and then
autonomously flow the data between other devices.​[18]​ Current market examples include ​home
automation​ (also known as smart home devices) such as the control and automation of lighting,
heating (like ​smart thermostat​), ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and appliances
such as washer/dryers, robotic vacuums, air purifiers, ovens, or refrigerators/freezers that use
Wi-Fi for remote monitoring. Examples also include Smart cities, wearables like Apple watch,
Fitbits for entertainment, fitness and health monitoring, Industrial automation for gathering of
data for predictive analysis and for scheduling preventive maintenance.​[19]​[​citation needed​]
As well as the expansion of Internet-connected automation into a plethora of new application
areas, IoT is also expected to generate large amounts of data from diverse locations, with the
consequent necessity for quick aggregation of the data, and an increase in the need to index,
store, and process such data more effectively. IoT is one of the platforms of today's Smart City,
and Smart Energy Management Systems.​[20]​[21]
The term "the Internet of things" was coined by Kevin Ashton of Procter & Gamble, later MIT's
Auto-ID Center, in 1999.​[22]
2

The "Internet of things" (IoT) is becoming an increasingly growing topic of conversation both in
the workplace and outside of it. It's a concept that not only has the potential to impact how we
live but also how we work. But what exactly is the "Internet of things" and what impact is it
going to have on you, if any? There are a lot of complexities around the "Internet of things" but I
want to stick to the basics. Lots of technical and policy-related conversations are being had but
many people are still just trying to grasp the foundation of what the heck these conversations are
about.
Let's start with understanding a few things.
Broadband Internet is become more widely available, the cost of connecting is decreasing, more
devices are being created with Wi-Fi capabilities and sensors built into them, technology costs
are going down, and smartphone penetration is sky-rocketing. All of these things are creating a
"perfect storm" for the IoT.
Watch on Forbes:
So What Is The Internet Of Things?
Simply put, this is the concept of basically connecting any device with an on and off switch to
the Internet (and/or to each other). This includes everything from cellphones, coffee makers,
washing machines, headphones, lamps, wearable devices and almost anything else you can think
of. This also applies to components of machines, for example a jet engine of an airplane or the
drill of an oil rig. As I mentioned, if it has an on and off switch then chances are it can be a part
of the IoT. The analyst firm ​Gartner​ says that by 2020 there will be over 26 billion connected
devices... That's a lot of connections (some even estimate this number to be much higher, over
100 billion). The IoT is a giant network of connected "things" (which also includes people).
The relationship will be between people-people, people-things, and things-things.
How Does This Impact You?
The new rule for the future is going to be, "Anything that can be connected, will be connected."
But why on earth would you want so many connected devices talking to each other? There are
many examples for what this might look like or what the potential value might be. Say for
example you are on your way to a meeting; your car could have access to your calendar and
already know the best route to take. If the traffic is heavy your car might send a text to the other
party notifying them that you will be late. What if your alarm clock wakes up you at 6 a.m. and
then notifies your coffee maker to start brewing coffee for you? What if your office equipment
knew when it was running low on supplies and automatically re-ordered more? What if the
wearable device you used in the workplace could tell you when and where you were most active
and productive and shared that information with other devices that you used while working?
On a broader scale, the IoT can be applied to things like transportation networks: "smart cities"
which can help us reduce waste and improve efficiency for things such as energy use; this
helping us understand and improve how we work and live. Take a look at the visual below to see
what something like that can look like.

The reality is that the IoT allows for virtually endless opportunities and connections to take
place, many of which we can't even think of or fully understand the impact of today. It's not hard
to see how and why the IoT is such a hot topic today; it certainly opens the door to a lot of
opportunities but also to many challenges. ​Security​ is a big issue that is oftentimes brought up.
With billions of devices being connected together, what can people do to make sure that their
information stays secure? Will someone be able to hack into your toaster and thereby get access
to your entire network? The IoT also opens up companies all over the world to more security
threats. Then we have the issue of privacy and data sharing. This is a hot-button topic even
today, so one can only imagine how the conversation and concerns will escalate when we are
talking about many billions of devices being connected. Another issue that many companies
specifically are going to be faced with is around the massive amounts of data that all of these
devices are going to produce. Companies need to figure out a way to store, track, analyze and
make sense of the vast amounts of data that will be generated.
So what now?
Conversations about the IoT are (and have been for several years) taking place all over the world
as we seek to understand how this will impact our lives. We are also trying to understand what
the many opportunities and challenges are going to be as more and more devices start to join the
IoT. For now the best thing that we can do is educate ourselves about what the IoT is and the
potential impacts that can be seen on how we work and live

You've likely heard the phrase "Internet of Things" — or IoT — at some point, but you might
also be scratching your head figuring out what it is or what it means.

The IoT refers to the connection of devices (other than typical fare such as computers and
smartphones) to the Internet. Cars, kitchen appliances, and even heart monitors can all be
connected through the IoT. And as the Internet of Things grows in the next few years, more
devices will join that list.

We've compiled a beginner's guide to the IoT to help you navigate the increasingly connected
world.

Terms and Basic Definitions

Below, we've provided a glossary defining the Internet of Things:

● Internet of Things: ​A network of internet-connected objects able to collect and

exchange data using embedded sensors.
● Internet of Things device: ​Any stand-alone internet-connected device that can be
monitored and/or controlled from a remote location.
● Internet of Things ecosystem:​ All the components that enable businesses, governments,
and consumers to connect to their IoT devices, including remotes, dashboards, networks,
gateways, analytics, data storage, and security.
● Entity: ​Includes businesses, governments, and consumers.
● Physical layer: ​The hardware that makes an IoT device, including sensors and
networking gear.
 ● Network layer:​ Responsible for transmitting the data collected by the physical layer to
different devices.
● Application layer:​ This includes the protocols and interfaces that devices use to identify
and communicate with each other.
● Remotes: ​Enable entities that utilize IoT devices​ t​ o connect with and control them using
a dashboard, such as a mobile application. They include smartphones, tablets, PCs,
smartwatches, connected TVs, and nontraditional remotes.
● Dashboard: ​Displays information about the IoT ecosystem to users and enables them to
control their IoT ecosystem. It is generally housed on a remote.
● Analytics: ​Software systems that analyze the data generated by IoT devices. The analysis
can be used for a variety of scenarios, such as predictive maintenance.
● Data storage:​ Where data from IoT devices is stored.
● Networks:​ The internet communication layer that enables the entity to communicate with
their device, and sometimes enables devices to communicate with each other.

IoT Predictions, Trends, and Market

BI Intelligence​, Business Insider's premium research service, expects there will be more than ​24
billion​ IoT devices on Earth by 2020. That's approximately four devices for every human being
on the planet.

And as we approach that point, ​$6 billion​ will flow into IoT solutions, including application
development, device hardware, system integration, data storage, security, and connectivity. But
that will be money well spent, as those investments will generate $13 trillion by 2025.

Who will reap these benefits? There are three major entities that will use IoT ecosystems:
consumers, governments, and businesses. For more detail, see the Industries section below.

IoT Industries
Several environments within the three groups of consumers, governments, and ecosystems will
benefit from the ​IoT​. These include:

Manufacturing Transportation Defense Agriculture

Infrastructure Retail Logistics Banks
Oil, gas, and mining Insurance Connected Home Food Services
Utilities Hospitality Healthcare Smart Buildings
IoT Companies
There are literally hundreds of companies linked to the Internet of Things, and the list should
only expand in the coming years. Here are some of the major players that have stood out in the
IoT to this point:
Honeywell (HON) Hitachi T-Mobile (TMUS) Comcast (CMCSA
GE (GE) AT&T (T) Cisco (CSCO) IBM (IBM)

Amazon (AMZN) Skyworks (SWKS) Apple (AAPL) Sierra Wireless (SW

Google (GOOGL) Iridium Communications (IRDM) Ambarella (AMBA) ARM Holdings (A

Texas Instruments (TXN) PTC (PTC) Fitbit (FIT) ORBCOMM (ORB

Garmin (GRMN) Blackrock (BLK) InvenSense (INVN) Microsoft (MSFT)

Control4 (CTRL) Silicon Laboratories (SLAB) CalAmp (CAMP) LogMeIn (LOGM)

InterDigital (IDCC) Ruckus Wireless (RKUS) Linear Technology (LLTC) Red Hat (RHT)
Arrow Electronics
Nimble Storage (NMBL) Silver Spring Networks (SSNI) Zebra Technologies (ZBRA)
(ARW)
IoT Platforms
One IoT device connects to another to transmit information using Internet transfer protocols. ​IoT
platforms​ serve as the bridge between the devices' sensors and the data networks.

The following are some of the top IoT platforms on the market today:

● Amazon Web Services

● Microsoft Azure
● ThingWorx IoT Platform
● IBM's Watson
● Cisco IoT Cloud Connect
● Salesforce IoT Cloud
● Oracle Integrated Cloud
● GE Predix

IoT Security & Privacy

As devices become more connected thanks to the ​IoT, security and privacy​ have become the
primary concern among consumers and businesses. In fact, the protection of sensitive data
ranked as the top concern (at 36% of those polled) among enterprises, according to the 2016
Vormetric Data Threat Report.

Cyber attacks are also a growing threat as more connected devices pop up around the globe.
Hackers could penetrate connected cars, critical infrastructure, and even people's homes. As a
result, several tech companies are focusing on cyber security in order to secure the privacy and
safety of all this data.

More to Learn
BI Intelligence has compiled an exhaustive and detailed report on the Internet of Things that is
your one-stop resource for all you need to know about the IoT.

The report gives a thorough outlook on the future of the Internet of Things, including the
following big picture insights:

● IoT devices connected to the Internet will more than triple by 2020, from 10 billion to 34
billion. IoT devices will account for 24 billion, while traditional computing devices (e.g.
smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc.) will comprise 10 billion.​

● Nearly $6 trillion will be spent on IoT solutions over the next five years.​

● Businesses will be the top adopter of IoT solutions because they will use IoT to 1) lower
operating costs; 2) increase productivity; and 3) expand to new markets or develop new
product offerings.​

● Governments will be the second-largest adopters, while consumers will be the group least
transformed by the IoT.​


And when you dig deep into the report, you’ll get the whole story in a clear, no-nonsense
presentation:

● The complex infrastructure of the Internet of Things distilled into a single ecosystem​

● The most comprehensive breakdown of the benefits and drawbacks of mesh (e.g. ZigBee,
Z-Wave, etc.), cellular (e.g. 3G/4G, Sigfox, etc.), and internet (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.)
networks​

● The important role analytics systems, including edge analytics, cloud analytics, will play
in making the most of IoT investments​

● The sizable security challenges presented by the IoT and how they can be overcome​

● The four powerful forces driving IoT innovation, plus the four difficult market barriers to
IoT adoption​

● Complete analysis of the likely future investment in the critical IoT infrastructure:
connectivity, security, data storage, system integration, device hardware, and application
development​

● In-depth analysis of how the IoT ecosystem will change and disrupt 16 different
industries​


To get your copy of this invaluable guide to the IoT universe, choose one of these options:

1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate

access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports,
subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> ​START A
MEMBERSHIP
 2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> ​BUY THE
REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a
powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of the IoT.

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is extending existing business models and leading to the
proliferation of entirely new ones as companies push beyond the data, analytics and intelligence
boundaries that held them back in the past. ​Gartner’s recent analysis​ of the top 10 IoT
technologies provides a glimpse into which areas of IoT their clients care the most about from
the standpoint of building out enterprise infrastructure, security, scalability, standards, and
performance.

Key takeaways from Gartner’s top 10 Internet of Things technologies for 2017 and 2018 include
the following:

● IoT Security​ – Gartner predicts that hardware and software advances will make IoT
security a fast-evolving area through 2021 and the skills shortage today will only
accelerate. Enterprises need to begin investing today in developing this expertise in-house
and also begin recruitment efforts. As many security problems are the result of poor
design, implementation and lack of training, expect to see market leaders adopting IoT
investing heavily in these areas.
● IoT Analytics​ – IoT analytics require entirely new algorithms, architectures, data
structures and approaches to machine learning if organizations are going to get the full
value of the data captured, and knowledge created. Distributed analytics architectures the
capitalize on pervasive, secure Internet of Things (IoT) network architectures will
eventually become knowledge sharing networks. For more information on how Toyota
accomplished this, please see the research completed by Dr. Jeffrey Dyer and Dr.
Nobeoka, ​Creating and Managing A High-Performance Knowledge-Sharing Network:
The Toyota Case​ (Dyer, Nobeoka, 2000).
● IoT Device Management ​– The challenges of enabling technologies that are context,
location, and state-aware while at the same time consistent with data and knowledge
 taxonomies is an area Gartner believes will see significant innovation in the next few
years. IoT Device Management will most likely break the boundaries of traditional data
management and create data structures capable of learning and flexing to unique inbound
data requirements over time.
● Low-Power, Short-Range IoT Networks​ – Low-power, short-range networks will
dominate wireless IoT connectivity through 2025, far outnumbering connections using
wide-area IoT networks.
● Low-Power, Wide-Area Networks​ – According to Gartner, traditional cellular networks
don't deliver a proper combination of technical features and operational cost for those IoT
applications that need wide-area coverage combined with relatively low bandwidth, good
battery life, low hardware and operating cost, and high connection density.
● IoT Processors ​– Gartner predicts that low-end 8-bit microcontrollers will dominate the
IoT through 2019 and shipments of 32-bit microcontrollers will overtake the 8-bit devices
by 2020. It’s interesting to note that Gartner doesn’t see 16- bit processors ever attaining
critical mass in IoT applications.
● IoT Operating Systems​ - Minimal and small footprint operating systems will gain
momentum in IoT through 2020 as traditional large-scale operating systems including
Windows and iOS are too complex and resource-intensive for the majority of IoT
applications. It’s been my experience that these operating systems are excellent at
exception- and event-driven tasks and can a few support the essential of multithreading as
well.
● Event Stream Processing ​- Gartner predicts that some IoT applications will generate
extremely high data rates that must be analyzed in real time. Systems creating tens of
thousands of events per second are common, and millions of events per second can occur
in some telecom and telemetry situations. To address such requirements, distributed
stream computing platforms (DSCPs) have emerged.
● IoT Platforms ​– According to Gartner IoT platforms bundle infrastructure components
of an IoT system into a single product. The services provided by such platforms fall into
three core categories. These include low-level device control and operations such as
communications, device monitoring and management, security, and firmware updates;
IoT data acquisition, transformation and management; and IoT application development,
including event-driven logic, application programming, visualization, analytics and
adapters to connect to enterprise systems.
● IoT Standards and Ecosystems​ - Although ecosystems and standards aren't precisely
technologies, most eventually materialize as application programming interfaces (APIs).
Standards and their associated APIs will be essential because IoT devices will need to
interoperate and communicate, and many IoT business models will rely on sharing data
between multiple devices and organizations.