The term “IoT” is being heard more frequently, but some people may be unsure what it means, or may have a general idea but not understand the specifics. IoT is an important concept that not only makes our lives more convenient but is also significantly related to the development of companies. By deepening your understanding of IoT, you should be able to see many things more clearly.
Therefore, this time, we will introduce an overview of IoT, what can be achieved through IoT, and examples of IoT applications by sector. We will also discuss JBAT’s “Qanat Universe,” which integrates the data necessary for IoT utilization, so please take a look.
What is IoT?
IoT stands for “Internet of Things.”
It refers to the technological innovation that enables not only information and communication equipment like personal computers and servers, but also all kinds of things—such as home appliances, cars, robots, and facilities like factories—to have communication functions and connect to the internet.
Put more simply, “IoT” is the concept of utilizing information and data, collected via the internet from sensors attached to things, across various fields.
The first person to use the term “Internet of Things” is said to be Kevin Ashton, who was researching and developing RFID at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States at the time.
Until now, when trying to gather certain information via the internet or other means, people needed to actively take action.
However, with IoT, things themselves collect the necessary information and data.
By connecting things to the internet and enabling the exchange and collection of information and data, it becomes possible to build mechanisms that generate new value.
Going forward, initiatives leveraging IoT, such as creating new businesses and improving corporate productivity, are highly anticipated.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has indicated that “if corporate reforms such as IoT adoption proceed smoothly, it could boost real GDP by up to 132 trillion yen by 2030.”
Four Functions Enabled by IoT
Using IoT technology, the following can be achieved:
1. Remotely Operating Things
IoT technology allows for the creation of systems where objects can be operated remotely from a distant location.
For example, you could operate your home’s air conditioner or turn on the bath while you are out, making life more convenient.
Smart home appliances and smart homes using IoT technology have already appeared.
2. Remotely Knowing the State of Things
Sensors and cameras attached to IoT devices enable you to grasp the condition of objects from far away.
For instance, attaching sensors that can check temperature, humidity, noise, radiation levels, etc., to equipment allows you to know the weather and surrounding environment of agricultural land without being there. You can also check the work environment and progress at a construction site.
A more familiar example is “monitoring services” that use motion sensors to check on children when they are away or the safety of elderly people.
3. Remotely Detecting the Movement of Things
It is also possible to remotely detect the movement of objects. For example, you can monitor whether factory machinery is operating normally, check the status of generators installed in remote locations, or grasp the operational status of commercial vehicles like taxis.
By collecting operational data and making it visible, you can early detect abnormalities and problems that are not apparent to the human eye.
4. Communicating with Remote Objects and People
IoT technology has also enabled remote communication between objects, and between objects and people.
For example, if you turn off the room lights when going to sleep, the air conditioner also turns off; if you speak to a smart speaker saying “the room is hot,” it can turn on the air conditioner or lower the set temperature; things can be connected via a network to exchange large amounts of data. Its application is advancing both in daily life and in business scenes.
IoT technology is expected to accelerate automatic data sharing between things.
The future is approaching where many companies can utilize vast amounts of data at a practical level.
Examples of IoT Applications by Sector
IoT devices have already spread throughout our lives, helping to improve convenience.IoT × Daily Life
The adoption of IoT is progressing in familiar home appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators.
You can turn on the air conditioner before returning home to cool the room, turn on lights for security, or check the number of times the refrigerator door opens on your smartphone to help save on electricity bills.
Furthermore, there are IoT collars that allow you to monitor the behavior of pets while you are away, and smart tags that help prevent losing items like wallets and keys are gaining attention for their high convenience, being operable from a smartphone.
Moreover, IoT technology is also used in AEBS (Autonomous Emergency Braking Systems) installed in vehicles.
These systems detect the movement of vehicles ahead or pedestrians and automatically apply the brakes or assist braking force, raising expectations for preventing traffic accidents.
IoT × Healthcare
IoT in the medical field is also called “IoMT (Internet of Medical Things).”
IoT technology has led to the emergence of services providing online medical consultations using wearable devices.
Doctors can grasp patients’ conditions in real-time, including blood pressure, blood sugar, activity levels, and weight, enabling health guidance even for patients who cannot visit the hospital. There are actually reported cases of diabetes treatment using wearable devices.
There are also examples where remote monitoring systems using IoT have been introduced for temperature and humidity control of pharmaceuticals during transport and storage.
IoT × Transportation
In the transportation sector, IoT technology is used to enhance the convenience of public transport.
For example, scanning a QR code posted at a bus stop can retrieve GPS data installed on the bus.
This allows passengers to know about bus delays and approach information, enabling them to use their time effectively.
Furthermore, installing GPS in taxis has made it possible to find available taxis and estimate arrival times. The spread of taxi dispatch apps has expanded nationwide, making them usable not only by individuals but also from facilities like hotels.
In addition, IoT solutions have emerged that analyze traffic volume and visualize highway congestion conditions to help alleviate road congestion.
IoT × Manufacturing
In the manufacturing industry and factories, IoT technology is being introduced for quality control, quality improvement, and productivity enhancement.
Various initiatives are underway towards the realization of smart factories, including predictive maintenance through monitoring machinery operation, visualization of data on production lines, and introduction of MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems).
Summary
IoT is not a story of the distant future, but of the near future that is arriving soon.
The implementation of IoT by companies will likely become indispensable for their future development.
Furthermore, if IoT technology becomes more open through the publication of APIs, the arrival of the IoT era may be accelerated even further.
Follow us on Facebook for updates and exclusive content! Click here: Maga AI
