A new trend is emerging, and it goes by the name “Internet of Things”. On the web, in the news, and at the workplace of every tech company, you will find its mention. So, what is it really? And how is it going to change our world? Is it that powerful? If you are seeking the answers to all these questions, then you are at the right place.

What is IoT?

Internet of Things, popularly known by its abbreviation IoT, is the ever-growing network of all the devices that are connected by the Internet. For instance, mobiles, tablets, computers, sensors, gaming consoles, etc. are some examples of these devices, which are differentiated by unique IP addresses.

When Internet was new, it was quite small. The only devices that had access to it were desktops and bulky laptops. Then the network grew gradually, and several years later the total number of connected users reached one billion. Not many years later we entered a whole new era that popularized mobile devices, and the network grew twofold. Now, we are again going through a revolutionary phase as IoT is getting bigger and bigger. By 2020 it is expected that the total no. of connected users would be about 28 billion.

How Will IoT Change the World?

IoT is already changing the world. Whether it is socializing, making a living, or just going about day to day things, everything is different now, and the credit goes to IoT. In every average home in this world you can find a small subset of IoT. From a WiFi network there are connected several devices- phones, tablets, gaming consoles, laptops, and even TVs. How can this level of connectivity not affect the world in many ways?

Here are 10 ways how IoT will change the world for the better:

 1) Sensors

Sensors will have a big role in the IoT revolution. As engineers and researchers are finding innovative ways of using sensors, changes are inevitable. Even today sensors are applied in various areas. In many offices they are being used for tracking the activities of employees, and tech giants like Samsung and Apple are incorporating them into wearable devices.

Since sensors can be easily connected to the web, are able to store data, and are really simple to use, they can be used almost everywhere.

2)  Big Data

IoT and Big Data go hand in hand, as the information collected from the former serves as the latter. Almost every individual today uses at least one Internet enabled device, which is why Big Data is really big, and it will go even bigger. Today, we have a number of complex algorithms and tools that allow companies to learn about their customers and understand their needs better. Even social media websites like Facebook are alone enough to detect trends and adapt business accordingly.

Big Data, which is powered by IoT, is to change everything we knew about marketing and running a business. It will affect how CRM works, how products are designed, how leads are generated, and more.

3) HealthCare

Wireless devices and sensors as implants or external devices are the natural, even obvious applications of IoT. These devices will be used in hospitals for monitoring the vitals of the patients. People will also use these devices at home. For instance, diabetics will be able to monitor their blood sugar levels on their smartphones, as they will be connected to wireless implants in their bodies.

For optimized usage such electronic devices will be developed that won’t require batteries. These will use body heat, radio waves, and vibration, etc. for power and thus would need to be implanted only once. It is expected that the sensor market in the healthcare industry will be as big as $45 billion by 2020.

4) New Jobs

The significance of IoT will increase so much that it will give rise of a whole new range of jobs. These include the following:

• Wearable Tech Designers: IoT is creating a need for wearable tech, which is further creating the need for wearable tech designers. Almost every big technology company, whether it is Google, Apple, or Samsung has its own segment of digital watches and health wearables, and as the demand is increasing we need more talented designers for wearable technology.

• Medical Robot Designers: Robots will be common in hospitals and clinics in the next 20 years, and they all will be connected to the Internet, as it will allow them to keep a check on the vital signs of patients though cameras and microphones. In fact, it is expected that in just four or five decades, robots will replace surgeons altogether. Medical robot designers, thus, is likely to become a hot job.

5) Better Transportation

In the next 10-20 years’ transportation will become completely automated. Trains, taxis, and buses will be run by AI and machines. They will also be connected to Internet. This will make it easier to control the traffic on the road, and the subway, as the traffic control centres will use software that will optimize the routes. The flow of traffic will be smoother, and you will be able to go places faster and safer.

IoT is already changing the world, but it will make a major impact in the next 10 years when it has reached a sufficiently high level of operation. From households to businesses, every area will be equally influenced, and we will have better everything- health, work, transportation, etc.