The number of devices connected to the internet that is in the hands of the consumer has skyrocketed. More and more products, objects and things are connected to the network thanks to small sensors that are responsible for allowing this connection and sending and receiving data. This is not only about mobile phones but any device that can connect to the internet. It is what is known as the
Internet of Things or IoT.
Physical exercise tracking, smart thermostats, connected WiFi cameras, virtual reality headsets, smart refrigerators and washing machines, alarm panels and smart glasses are all now connected to the internet.
According to data from IDC, at the end of 2013, there were 9,100 million connected IoT devices, and this figure will grow every year by 17.5 percent, which will mean that by 2020 more than 25,000 million IoT devices will be operating.
An aid for daily tasks
The idea is to be able to apply a bit of "intelligence" to these connected devices and those that, until now, remained "isolated" in a way that incorporates and offers added value to consumers. There is a growing variety of products available and, in fact, smartphone owners have long shown their desire for Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to help them with everyday tasks, such as home and car.
According to the results of a survey carried out by Deloitte, 55 percent of consumers show interest in connected home technologies related to the IoT and 63 percent of consumers show interest in connected car solutions.
This interest is translated, according to this study, into the willingness to spend money on useful ideas, especially in those devices or functions that can replace something in their daily life.
Thus, at home, consumers are interested in the control and visualization of their home rather than in the control of devices or entertainment options.
The truth is that thanks to the fact that more and more things are connected to the internet, the world of possibilities open to people for the management of daily routines is very large. Concepts such as the smart home would not be possible without the IoT. What would be those functions most in demand in the home? According to a survey conducted by Park Associates, the control of the lights is, by far, the main claim, followed by the control of the appliances. Programming the thermostat, smoke control, security cameras or being able to close doors at distances are other areas of interest.
But health is also one of the most interesting potential markets that are related to the IoT: from the monitoring of vital signs to the alert in case you forget to take the corresponding medication.
Mobile app development company can help you develop apps that will make you use of IoT effectively.
Wearables
The intelligent devices that you carry on your body are one of the best examples of the IoT and all its possibilities.
The most common and known wearables are usually fitness and physical activity tracking wristbands, followed by watches. With increasingly careful design, these products try not to be invasive, to accompany the user at all times and offer benefits such as monitoring their physical activity.
These instruments also serve to be able to follow up in real time on people whose health are delicate. For example, think of yourself as a senior. Thanks to these wearables, your relatives can know if your vital signs are good if you have suffered a rise in blood pressure or even a drop in sugar. In these cases, they can come to your aid or notify the nearest doctor (or even that it is the medical staff who receives these alerts).
Moreover, it is possible that these seniors have to take certain medication at certain times of the day. Devices connected to the internet can be of great help to remind them what medication to take and when, and even to know if the medication has been properly administered. If not, they can alert (either the patient, a family member or the doctor) that the established guidelines have not been followed.
Wearables are one of the IoT devices that have the most potential. There is even talk that, within five years, 40% of wearables will have become a viable consumer alternative to smartphones.
Some of the functions that wearables can offer are mundane but no less useful. Other more advanced wearables can detail other information even more sensitive to users. These devices could automatically connect with other devices and, for example, automatically adjust the lighting level when we sit down to watch TV or lower the blinds to avoid reflections. Even the backlight of the TV could be modified and have all the settings optimized for energy saving. You can meet with top app development companies to take
advantage of Big Data.
The clothes will tell you if your baby stops breathing
In addition to watches and tracking wristbands, clothing with sensors is one of the most rising phenomena. Many of the clothes with sensors that are being developed are also designed for physical exercise. Thus, these garments help you to understand which muscles you are exercising more if the movements you make are correct or not and monitor your vital costs.
They are garments that are intended both for use by athletes (whether professional or not), but also to give a certain touch of glamor in some championships. For example, Ralph Lauren outfitted ball boys at the 2014 US Open with wearables.
But there are also several proposals so that the smallest of the house, the babies, can also be controlled.
In this case, if there is any significant alteration in the vital signs of the babies, the parents can receive an alert on their mobile phone. Some of these clothes control body temperature or heart rate, but they can also tell if there has been an interruption in breathing or if the oxygen level (saturation) is adequate.
Nothing seems to escape the phenomenon of devices or clothes that we wear and that can allow us a lot of possibilities with the Internet of Things.
There are many more benefits that will come with IoT. You can contact
top app development companies to integrate your IoT devices together and be able to make better decisions. Coupling Big Data with IoT, we will soon be living a life that is completely automated. Meet with top app development companies today.