The Technologies Behind the Internet of Things Add to reading list

All About Sensors

A sensor, in the most basic definition of the word, is a device that can pick up physical signals from its surrounding environment and, in some way, respond to this information. Examples are motion-detecting light bulbs and the gyroscope in a smartphone that can sense the phone’s motion and orientation. By detecting and reacting to environmental data—such as temperature change, particles of a chemical in the air, motion, pressure, sound, heart rate, vibration, electrical current and much more—sensors enable us to develop a comprehensive understanding of the world around us.

Connection to the internet is key to the IoT. Because IoT devices are by definition connected to the internet, the huge quantities of data taken by IoT sensors can be stored online and in the cloud, and the individual sensors end up forming a collective composed of the sum of their parts.

IoT devices connect to the internet either through a Wi-Fi connection or by using cellular data. Wi-Fi is, in essence, a radio frequency used to wirelessly connect devices to each other. view citation[1] This is how your laptop is able to connect to your wireless router, for example. Wi-Fi provides excellent coverage in a limited area, so IoT device developers are limited when designing for Wi-Fi capability.

Cellular data networks, on the other hand, use cell towers to cover vast areas. Cellular networks are growing rapidly, and for developers who want to design devices and applications that can be used around the world, cellular networks have many advantages. view citation[2]

Whichever type of connection is used, all IoT devices are connected to the internet, allowing for communication between devices. The IoT is, at heart, the phenomenon of all of these individual sensors talking to each other, resulting in a collective system that collects and shares—well, everything.

This network of devices obviously has great potential for convenience and efficiency. A smart oven, for example, might be able to sense when no one is home and turn itself safely off, saving energy and preventing you from having to rush home to turn it off. view citation[3] But in this example, and in many others, IoT devices also have the potential to save lives.