Examples Of Internet Of Things Devices: The Top 5 Coolest IoT Devices

Discover The Examples Of Internet Of Things Devices:
The talk of the day recently has to do with the Internet of Things (IoT) and the easy control they have over all their devices from anywhere in the world. The Internet of things is a fairly new technology, and is used by individuals, homes, industries, and a lot other to mention a few.

Read About: Internet Of Things Technology

What is IoT?

Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of computers and hardwares of the internet using sensors,  Internet and the actuators. This means that one can control all his objects from anywhere in the world. This Internet Of Things (IoT) uses a variety of similar  technologies in order to connect the physical and digital space. Physical devices are embedded with sensors (which can monitor variables such as temperature or motion, or any physical change) and actuators (which receive signals from the sensors and then do something to respond to those physical changes). Sensors and actuators communicate via wire (e.g. Ethernet, USB) or wireless (e.g. WiFi, Bluetooth, internet) networks with computer systems that can monitor or manage the status and operations of connected machines and devices.

The constant connectivity allowed by the Internet Of Things, joined with data and analytics, provides new opportunities for organizations to design  innovative products and services, as well as increase operational orderliness. Since the 2010s, the Internet Of Things has become one of the most important trends in the digital transformation of companies and the economy of the country.
There are a wide variety of IoT devices now utilized all over the world.

The top 5 most common IoT devices include

Examples Of Internet Of Things Devices:

1. Wearables:

Wearables are devices that are used by humans while worn on the body, such as wrist watches, temperature-controlled jackets, medical devices, jewelry and others. Modern wearable devices have a wide range of uses, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers like the Fitbit Charge, VR headsets, smart jewelry, internet glasses, and Bluetooth headsets e.t.c. Wearables work differently depending on their category, such as fitness, health, or entertainment. Primarily, wearable technology is powered by a combination of microprocessors, batteries, and an Internet connection, allowing the collected data to be synchronized with other electronic products such as mobile devices or laptops.

Wearable technologies are built with built-in sensors that track movements, provide biometric identification, or help detect situations. Using the following devices as example, smartwatches or activity trackers—the most popular types of wearables—come with a strap that wraps around the wearer’s wrist to track activity or vitals throughout the activities.

2. Smart Home: A smart home is a home with connected devices that can be programmed and controlled remotely using a smartphone or computer. A smart home allows, for example, remote control of security, lighting, multimedia, temperature, windows and doors and many other appliances.

Common smart devices include lighting equipment, Heating equipment, Power controls (smart plugs and switches), Energy monitor, Protection (hair and cameras), Guesthouse system etc.

With just a smartphone, smart devices and a reliable internet connection, you can automate tasks and control your home with your voice even when you’re away.

3. Air quality monitors:
According to Safeopedia, an air quality monitor is a device that measures the levels of common air pollutants, such as CO2, SO2, NOx etc. they are used both indoors and outdoors. Indoor air quality metres are typically sensor-based. Some can measure ppb levels and are available as mixed gases or portable devices. Sensor equipment and air quality monitoring systems are used more often in ambient scenarios.

Plant operators use air quality monitoring devices to effectively monitor and control environmental emissions, which helps to make better relationships with regulators. Due to the quality of the air regulation shifts, the burden from government-sponsored monitoring to industry-sponsored monitoring, it is increasingly important for companies to purchase their own quality monitoring devices.

4. Autonomous cars: Autonomous cars, or Self-driving cars, are vehicles that can sense their environment and operate without human intervention. Human passengers do not have to control the vehicle at any time, or be in the vehicle at all.

Driverless cars can go anywhere conventional cars can go and do anything experienced people can do. Companies currently producing  autonomous cars include Waymo, Baidu, Tesla, General Motors among many others.

5. Industrial equipment: Most of the companies are investing in  industrial automation and Internet Of Things  to greatly benefit their business. The cost reduction and profitability are important drivers, an organization’s ability to scale and improve AI-powered industrial operations is critical, especially in healthcare and other life-saving industries and individuals. In Spite of all the improvements and advances that automation has brought to the organizations, the technologies for deploying Internet Of Things bring their own set of difficulties.
For example, IoT technology inherently raises significant security concerns, although new initiatives known as IoT security have emerged to address these types of concerns.

What are the risks associated with IoT?

Because the safety of Internet Of Things in everyday life has increased in recent times, and a number of risks have been identified with respect to the use of IoT systems.

The following are the risks involved :

• Expanded (and growing) invasion zone:
  One of the biggest concerns in securing an organization’s Internet Of Things environment is scale. The Estimates of the actual number of connected devices in the world differs from researcher to another, but the numbers are always in the billions and continue to develop. For example, in its State of the Internet of Things – Spring 2023 report, IoT Analytics estimates that the number of active IoT endpoints will reach 14.3 billion by 2022, an 18 percent increase over last year’s figure.  Internet Of Things Analytics recorded that by 2023, the number of connected Internet Of Things devices worldwide will grow by 16 percent, reaching 16.7 billion active endpoints.

Of course, the number of devices needed to protect any organization is very small; However, this number is increasing rapidly. According to a recent report, “Managing Risk and Cost at the Edge,” conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by Adaptiva, the average enterprise manages about 135,000 endpoint devices. Additionally, IoT devices typically operate 24/7 and many, but not all, are constantly connected.

• Incredible tools:
  A single endpoint poses security risks for the entire IoT ecosystem and ultimately for the company’s IT environment. Devices typically do not have built-in security controls for limitations, i.e. low computing power and low power design. Because of this reason, many devices do not support security features such as encryption, authentication and access control. Although endpoint devices have security controls such as passwords, some organizations still implement existing security options without using or enabling them.

• Maintenance and improvement challenges:
  The challenges of securing end devices and properly updating software create additional vulnerabilities. Here are some useful points. First, device manufacturers may not provide updates such as security patches to address vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, especially if the end device is an older model. Second, communication limitations as well as limited computing power and equipment power supplies make it impossible to upgrade equipment in the field.

• Poor asset management:
  Even if improvement is possible, organizations don’t know they have the tools to improve. According to a Ponemon Institute report, most organizations don’t have a clear vision of the entire IoT endpoint configuration. In fact, research shows that 48% of devices (or about 65,000 per organization) are “no longer accessible to the organization’s IT department or because endpoint operating systems have been compromised.

• Black Internet of Things:
  A related threat is IoT, that is. IoT endpoints installed without formal IT or security department support or approval. Rogue Internet Of Things devices can be individual objects with IP addresses, such as fitness trackers or digital assistants, but they can also be business and enterprise technologies, such as wireless printers. Either way, they pose a business risk because they may not meet the security needs of your organization, and even if they do, they may not be configured or implemented according to security best approaches. In addition, IT administrators and security teams are often unaware of these applications and therefore do not monitor them or their traffic, giving hackers the opportunity to exploit them unnoticed.
  
  Conclusion:
  From this write up, it is worth noting that IoT devices plays pivotal roles in helping us at every corner Of our lives. It helps to lessen our burden in every engagement of our lives, ranging from our daily tasks to health care and fashion. IoT devices can be used to make smart and intelligent homes and other smart activities. The earlier we adopt these technologies, the more we embrace a smart world and beyond.