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What is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things, also known as IoT (Internet of Things), is a network that connects various devices and systems, allowing them to exchange data without direct human involvement. Within this network, devices can not only receive commands from users but also autonomously transmit information to one another. A vivid example of IoT application is the concept of a smart home, where, for instance, a temperature sensor can send a signal to an air conditioner to turn on when the room temperature rises.
Applications of the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things finds wide application in various fields, including:
- Security Systems: Smart alarms can lock doors and call the police when triggered.
- Healthcare: Monitoring devices on patients transmit data to doctors, ensuring more effective health status control.
- Agriculture: Sensors in greenhouses and on livestock provide updated information on the condition of plants and animals, automating watering and feeding processes.
- Industry: Factories integrate equipment into computer networks to streamline control and enhance productivity.
- Urban Environment: Street lighting can automatically turn on after dark.
Structure of an IoT System
A typical Internet of Things system consists of several devices or programs connected to a cloud platform via Bluetooth or WiFi. In industrial applications, big data technologies are actively used for creating IoT systems, allowing for the processing of vast amounts of information to generate analytical insights and improve business processes.
Internet of Things in Marketing
Marketers also actively use the Internet of Things to enhance the effectiveness of their strategies:
- Analytics: Smart devices collect data on user behavior, such as search history or voice queries. This data helps understand the preferences of the target audience and create more relevant advertising offers.
- Advertising: Services like Google Maps or Yandex Maps utilize the user's location to suggest nearby restaurants or services, making advertising more targeted and less intrusive.
Personalized and geo-marketing approaches allow for optimizing promotion costs, increasing customer loyalty, and anticipating their desires.
Interesting Fact about IoT
The first device to enter history as an "internet thing" was created in 1990 by John Romkey and Simon Hackett. They connected a toaster to a computer via the internet, allowing it to be turned on and off remotely. At the Interop exhibition in 1991, a small robotic crane was added to the system, which, receiving commands from the computer, could take a piece of bread and place it in the toaster, marking an early example of practical IoT application.