IoT (Internet of Things) is having a huge impact on our technological future. But what is IoT? Here is WikiPedia’s summary:
The Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
Wikipedia
So what are some examples of IoT? Chances are you have an IoT device already at home – Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Watches, even video doorbells.
Other applications include those in use by the military and security industries. There are smart cars and smart cities (eg traffic management or waste management).
So how does this impact web development?
IoT is changing how people interact with the web – not only are they sitting at a laptop tapping away, they are talking to it and asking questions, sending it information about their location and their heart rate, or using it to show them if its the pizza delivery driver knocking at the door.
Its essentially about data, and lots of it. Websites will need to be able to do more than just allow a user to browse – they will need to allow for the collection and processing of data to provide truly interactive experiences.
Build your own smart home
Building IoT devices is not only limited to businesses in the technology industry, lots of components are widely available online for consumers to buy and to build their own devices. Systems can easily be built using open source frameworks.
Online stores such as the UKIoT store have a range of devices available for both home and business users, including a range of gateways and sensors which send and receive the data.
The future of IoT
During 2020, it is estimated there will be 31 billion IoT devices installed. This is expected to grow to 71 million by 2025.
There is no limit to the future of IoT and web development, the possibilities are almost endless. We will no doubt see the world of IoT and web development becoming more and more intertwined as new devices and applications become available.
