The Internet of Things refers to the digital interconnection of objects with the internet, so that everyday items can be managed by other devices or people through the internet. It is one of the key technologies driving the Industry 4.0 revolution, both in the development of new products and in the management of production processes themselves.

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What is the Internet of Things?

Also known as the Internet of Things (IoT), the term can be defined as the interconnection of devices through a network, making them visible and able to interact with each other without human intervention. Any object can potentially be connected thanks to various types of sensors or devices that can be built into it.

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How does the Internet of Things work?

Its functioning is very similar to that of the internet. Through communication between devices over the internet, we can establish five levels of development:

• Identity (the object can be identified).
• Location (it can be tracked to know where it is or has been).
• Status (it can communicate its condition and characteristics).
• Context (it can perceive its environment).
• Criteria (it can decide and execute actions).

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What is the Internet of Things used for?

The applications and possibilities of the Internet of Things are almost limitless, both in personal life and in business environments.

In industry, for example, it enables the analysis of data and the sending of messages to users depending on the actions required by a specific machine, or even the creation of an automatic response protocol in case of any alarm, without the need for human action.

In everyday life, we can imagine almost any object around us. Clothes could provide information about their usage or our activity; a refrigerator could monitor the expiration date of food and send alerts to our mobile phone—or even automatically place an online order when a staple product runs out.

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Benefits of the Internet of Things

Focusing on the business sphere, the main benefits of IoT include the creation of new business models, new products, and greater efficiency based on process automation. In addition, this technology enhances the user experience in everyday tasks or routine interactions with certain businesses. From the worker’s perspective, it helps increase productivity through automation and the power of data.

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The Internet of Things offers broad opportunities for all types of companies—especially when combined with other technologies like Big Data. Could you improve any of your organization’s processes thanks to IoT?