1 A] Explain the evolution of IoT.]
The IoT, as we see it today, is a result of a series of technological paradigm shifts over a few
decades. The technologies that laid the foundation of connected systems by achieving easy
integration to daily lives, popular public acceptance, and massive benefits by using connected
solutions can be considered as the founding solutions for the development of IoT. Figure 6
shows the sequence of technological advancements for shaping the IoT as it is today. These
sequence of technical developments toward the emergence of IoT are described in brief:
- ATM: ATMs or automated teller machines are cash distribution machines, which are
linked to a user’s bank account. ATMs dispense cash upon verification of the identity of
a user and their account through a specially coded card. The central concept behind
ATMs was the availability of financial transactions even when banks were closed
beyond their regular work hours. The first ATM became operational and connected
online for the first time in 1974. - Web: World Wide Web is a global information sharing and communication platform.
The Web became operational for the first time in 1991. Since then, it has been
massively responsible for the many revolutions in the field of computing and
communication. - Smart Meters: The earliest smart meter was a power meter, which became operational
in early 2000. These power meters were capable of communicating remotely with the
power grid. They enabled remote monitoring of subscribers’ power usage and eased the
process of billing and power allocation from grids. - Digital Locks: Digital locks can be considered as one of the earlier attempts at
connected home-automation systems. Present-day digital locks are so robust that
smartphones can be used to control them. Operations such as locking and unlocking
doors, changing key codes, including new members in the access lists, can be easily
performed, and that too remotely using smartphones. - Connected Healthcare: Here, healthcare devices connect to hospitals, doctors, and
relatives to alert them of medical emergencies and take preventive measures. The
devices may be simple wearable appliances, monitoring just the heart rate and pulse of
the wearer, as well as regular medical devices and monitors in hospitals. The connected
nature of these systems makes the availability of medical records and test results much
faster, cheaper, and convenient for both patients as well as hospital authorities. - Connected Vehicles: Connected vehicles may communicate to the Internet or with
other vehicles, or even with sensors and actuators contained within it. These vehicles
self-diagnose themselves and alert owners about system failures. - Smart Cities: This is a city-wide implementation of smart sensing, monitoring, and
actuation systems. The city-wide infrastructure communicating amongst themselves
enables unified and synchronized operations and information dissemination. Some of
the facilities which may benefit are parking, transportation, and others. - Smart Dust: These are microscopic computers. Smaller than a grain of sand each, they
can be used in numerous beneficial ways, where regular computers cannot operate. For
example, smart dust can be sprayed to measure chemicals in the soil or even to diagnose
problems in the human body. - Smart Factories: These factories can monitor plant processes, assembly lines,
distribution lines, and manage factory floors all on their own. The reduction in mishaps
due to human errors in judgment or un-optimized processes is drastically reduced. - UAVs: UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles have emerged as robust public domain
solutions tasked with applications ranging from agriculture, surveys, surveillance,
deliveries, stock maintenance, asset management, and other tasks.