Are you in the loop over what’s in store this year for Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the millions of physical devices found globally that are all connected to the internet and are actively collecting and sharing data.

Owing to the prevalence of computer chips and the ubiquity of wireless networks, it is now possible for almost all connected devices to tap into IoT technology.

All these connected devices usually have sensors, which in turn adds a significant level of intelligence to these devices, allowing them to communicate and transmit real-time data sans any human intervention.

What Exactly Is the Internet of Things? 

The Internet of Things aims to make society smarter and a lot more interactive, as the digital world seamlessly meshes with the physical world. This is precisely what IoT applications do – which is why they are often called smart devices.

IoT has penetrated every fiber of human life. From technology to agriculture, to healthcare and education, IoT solutions are now very much involved in addressing business and economic problems as well as being a cornerstone of what many analysts call Industry 4.0.

In countries like the United States, Japan, Korea, and much of Western Europe, IoT is leading the way not only in the creation of many an IoT device, but also heralds the birth of the so-called smart home all the way to the smart city.

As a tech professional who probably has not yet taken a deep dive into the intricacies of IoT technology, the concept itself may seem too magnanimous if not downright overwhelming. As we usher in 2023, it is high time to take a closer look at the latest developments and innovations that IoT has laid on the table.

For job candidates hoping to eventually snag an important role in tech anchored on IoT and Industry 4.0, it would be very useful to prime yourself up with the latest goings in in IoT to hopefully ready yourself for a career transition in the not-so-distant future.

Mainstream IoT Innovations 

Here are the three IoT systems that have made the greatest leap forward in the span of just 3-4 years according to IoT analytics and are part of the critical infrastructure of the IoT ecosystem:

1. Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 is mainly responsible for increasing the speed and connectivity of IoT devices. This upgrade from older versions of wi-fi has heralded the creation of new IoT applications with much higher capacity. Routers, gateways, as well as customer-premises equipment (CPE) were highly instrumental for the hastened adoption of Wi-Fi 6.

2. Graphics Processing Units (GPU)

The latest developments in graphic processing units (GPUs) show exciting new possibilities in gaming, content creation, machine learning, and so much more. It is amazing how IoT has really spearheaded the growth of GPUs.

Their optimization, which led to their capability to host deep learning AI models to run multiple computations alongside IoT applications and their usage in data centers because of their processing capabilities shows even more promise for what GPUs could be capable of in the future.

3. Intelligent Sensors

One of the most innovative components of an IoT system, the last three years were witness to the astounding development of intelligent sensors.

Crucial issues related to latency, security, and many edge computing applications have been remedied and are continually being improved. The intelligent sensors of today now have data processing capabilities. This allows them to process data closer to the sensor and respond much faster to the user interface.

Medical and healthcare devices, in particular, have benefited so much from the advances in intelligent sensors.

Advanced IOT-Related Technologies 

Aside from these three, it would also be interesting for you to know all other advanced technologies related to IoT, which have shown great promise and already have plenty of use cases in both the private and public sector.

1. Cloud Computing

This refers to the delivery of services via the internet. Data storage, servers, databases, networks, and various software now operate from the cloud.

2. IoT Platform

An IoT platform refers to a collection of software tools that manage IoT solutions.

IoT platforms have greatly simplified coding and have enabled edge to cloud communications seamlessly.

3. Edge AI

This refers to the merging of edge computing and AI. AI algorithms may now be processed directly on the device or through a server near the device.

4. IoT-Based Streaming Analytics

This refers to the processing and analysis of moving live data from multiple sources such as various IoT devices to get real-time responses or alerts.

5. Supervised AI

This happens when you combine the principles of machine learning and artificial intelligence. This is done through the use of labeled datasets to make algorithms learn to classify data or project results accurately.

6. Real-Time Database

Once this becomes fully mature, you will then be able to do real-time processing of a database system that contains workloads that are constantly changing.

IOT Hardware Technologies 

Meanwhile, here are some IoT Hardware Technologies that are also hastening the development of emerging technologies within the IoT ecosystem on top of CPUs, MCUs, GPUs, and security chips:

1. Edge Gateways

These physical devices are the connection points between controllers, the cloud, intelligent devices, and sensors within the IoT system.

2. Chiplets

More minute yet more advanced than chips, these are a new design philosophy that enable various chips with varying process node sizes to be utilized in just one package of a sole substrate.

3. Tiny ML

This is a rather new and innovative field of study in ML and embedded systems that consist of models you can run via small, low-powered devices. Microcontrollers are an example of this.

IOT Connectivity Technologies 

Furthermore, here are some samples of IoT Connectivity Technologies that are already making a difference in the IoT network and are greatly contributing to various efforts on digital transformation:

1. Mesh Networks

This network refers to a group of devices that collectively act as a single Wi-Fi network. This allows companies, organizations, and homes to have multiple sources of internet connectivity instead of depending on a single source.

2. 5G

This is the latest generation of cellular networks that ensures more seamless connectivity.

3. eSim

This refers to a sim card placed in your mobile device which allows for remote sim provisioning. This, in turn, enables the storage of many operator profiles at the same time and the capability to switch between them remotely.

IoT and the Tech Professional 

Indeed, IoT will nothing short of revolutionize business, societies, and the global economy. As a tech professional, it is critical to invest in education and understanding of the IoT ecosystem to boost your value and productivity in the tech sector. IoT adoption is bound to happen no matter what across all industries, be prepared!