Key Trends in the Internet Of Things Sector That Will Dominate in 2018

In layman terms, IoT is any device that has enough electronics and sensors that enable it to exchange data, stay connected and monitor variables. It enables our day-to-day devices to be smart. The term can be traced back to 1999, and it is slowly unraveling its potential since then.

The effect is profound as you can see that today, most of your home appliances have become smart and some can even send you notifications on the go. This trend is expected to go on for the foreseeable future as it’s all about making our lives easier, and our surroundings convenient.

So let’s have a look at some of the Internet of things trends that will dominate 2018.

Everything will be connected!

It is the primary aim of IoT, and we will come to see its fruition in 2018 and beyond. Look around you, even the concept of smartphones has its foundation in IoT. We can expect to see more devices given the tag of “Smart” in the future. Think about such a scenario, where your refrigerator at home would notify you of depleting produce or something that has gone bad.

The rate of information tracked and were communicated will be staggering. Again, the emphasis here is to make life convenient for us. It’s also scary at times if you think about the possibility of this data being leaked or hacked. This is why hardware and software developers are fighting two battles at once.

A truly smart home ecosystem

One of the primary areas where IoT is employed predominantly is in the “Smart Home” sector. We are seeing smart alarms, thermostats, home assistant and even cameras. However, this is just a fraction of what IoT can truly achieve in this specific field. With new developments in the future, we can expect home based IoT system to flourish even more.

The rise of the digital twin

We haven’t heard much about the digital twin, but that is going to change in 2018. What is a digital twin? It is a digital representation of the physical world. With Digital twin, you can simulate how physical machinery will work and respond to various external factors. This makes it possible for the engineers and designers to know how well it will work in the real world. Also, it will us insight into any changes that need to be done to improve overall efficiency.

How does this connect with IoT? With the rapid development of IoT, we are able to use sensors that can record all sorts of data and make everything communicate in a very seamless manner. The development of IoT will further guarantee the development of Digital twin in the future.

Security

In the journey to help the humankind, IoT must be able to delve into the field of security. Considering the fact that sensors of today are very tiny and portable, IoT will definitely add to the overall security of the home. This is not just a concept, as there are many devices out there that will monitor your house 24/7 and alert you if it detects any suspicious activities.

More companies will lineup for IoT

Considering the advantages of IoT systems, companies will be missing out on some serious improvements if they are not thinking about adopting IoT. With industry leaders like Google, Microsoft and Amazon making their move on IoT based systems, the IoT development platforms are evolving at an unprecedented rate. We are seeing a huge upraise in the number of companies that are adopting IoT based tech into their existing technologies. For the companies, this means that they will have a greater control and efficiency for the users.

Expansion of AI

When IoT is a culmination of various sensors and data gathering devices, there needs to be a controlling body that manages everything. Nowadays, AI is tasked with tying up everything to create an ecosystem that can work without any hiccups. Also, various IoT devices are giving AI the power to interact and study new things and scenarios. So IoT and AI will continue to work in such a way that they will mutually benefit from each other.

IoT powered healthcare

Sensors are just restricted to measure variables around us; but they can also be used to measure things inside us. We are talking about the ways in which IoT can be used in the medical field to boost our healthcare systems and pave the way for smart devices that can help us diagnose diseases on the go. As per the data collected by Frost and Sullivan, the IoT empowered medical field will reach a growth rate of about $72 billion.

We can already see the tech in some Smart watches which monitor the user’s heart rate and blood pressure while it’s wrapped on their wrists. These devices notify the wearer if it detects an anomaly in their health condition.

Manufacturing

IoT will facilitate for a more efficient workplace thanks to the myriad of sensors it uses to fetch data. Presently, the results are making a case for themselves as IoT powered manufacturing plants are seeing a reduction in downtimes that go up to 95% and reduced waste materials. Needless to say, the industry is now being called “Industry 4.0”, thanks to new advancements in manufacturing and automation.

We will be soon seeing smart factories that can drive overall efficiency through the roof!

2018 is going to be the year of IoT

IoT is becoming the hottest topics nowadays, and the early adopters are happy with their investment. With more and more advancements in portable technology and sensors, IoT will reach new markets in no time. Since everything is connected by cloud, the user can track data from anywhere. And the user can access this information by simply using their smartphones. When the users can handle data from IoT without buying any additional hardware, it is again a win for the IoT based systems. It also shows why they are a good investment in the long run.