What is the Internet of Things

It’s all the rage right now, but what exactly is the Internet of Things?

IBM describes IoT as:

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other physical objects that are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity, allowing them to collect and share data.

https://www.ibm.com/topics/internet-of-things

While Oracle says:

The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects—“things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. 

https://www.oracle.com/internet-of-things/what-is-iot/

There is tremendous value in being able to leverage sensors and connectivity to share information. It might be soil conditions as they relate to food crops, or the temperature of a warehouse storing perishable goods. The real power comes from combining that information with actuators that can respond to the sensor data. Perhaps turn on watering, or open roof vents at night to leverage the colder air.

Note that the less expensive ways to get started here do not include connectivity features, but you can purchase and add on those components later. The key is learning the principles of how the components function, how to connect them and what programming is required to make the system provide value.