how the internet of things works
these devices use internet protocol ip the same protocol that identifies computers over the world wide web and allows them to communicate with one another the goal behind the internet of things is to have devices that self report in real time improving efficiency and bringing important information to the surface more quickly than a system depending on human intervention the term internet of things is attributed to kevin ashton of procter gamble who in 1999 used the phrase to describe the role of rfid tags in making supply chains more efficient 1 the internet of things promises to transform a wide range of fields in medicine for example connected devices can help medical professionals monitor patients inside and outside of a hospital setting computers can then evaluate the data to help practitioners adjust treatments and improve patient outcomes another field that s also experiencing a transformation is urban planning when sensors that have an ip address are placed under a busy street for instance city officials can alert drivers about upcoming delays or accidents meanwhile intelligent trash cans are able to notify the city when they become full thus optimizing waste collection routes the use of smart devices will also likely mean a competitive advantage for businesses that use them strategically for instance by tracking data about energy use and inventory levels a firm can significantly reduce its overall costs connectivity may also help companies market to consumers more effectively by tracking a consumer s behavior inside a store a retailer could theoretically make tailored product recommendations that increase the overall size of the sale once a product is in a consumer s home that product can be used to alert the owner of upcoming service schedules and even prompt the owner to book the appointment as with all questions of personal data there are many privacy concerns that have yet to be addressed when it comes to the internet of things the technology has advanced much faster than the regulatory environment so there are potential regulatory risks facing companies that are continuing to expand the range of internet connected devices 