Nebraska Library Commission

What is the Internet of Things?

“The Internet of Things which is commonly called IoT, refers to the billions of devices around the world that are connected to the internet through sensors or Wi-Fi. It's basically a giant network of objects that connect to the internet. Each device collects data, and this data, known collectively as big data, is exchanged and analyzed.” (TechRepublic).

Learn more about what IoT is and why it matters in these resources:

• Internet of Things (IoT): Cheat Sheet (TechRepublic)
• A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the Internet of Things (Vox)
• IoT: What it is and why it matters: SAS knows software and analytics. Learn what IoT is, how it’s used in different industries, and how to get started.
• What is the Internet of Things: WIRED will tell you everything you need to know about IoT.
• Why IoT Needs AI: This article in IEEE describes how AI and IoT walk hand in hand as the world becomes more data driven.

Real World Solutions

IoT is solving problems in energy, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, education, architecture, and nearly every industry under the sun. Check out these use cases and IoT solutions to learn more:

• SAS Industry Applications: Click open the “Industry Applications” dropdown menu to see more.
• 11 Innovative IoT Use Cases: This slideshow from Industry Week shows some practical applications for IoT across industries.
• Realm: This IoT solution for smart agriculture is located right here in Lincoln!
• IBM IoT in Business Operations: Learn how IoT is transformation facilities, engineering, manufacturing, and equipment use.
• IoT Customer Stories from CISCO
• IoT Connected Skies: Learn how IoT is working in drones to solve problems from the sky.
• Snapshot from Progressive: This page never says IoT, but it’s there. This car insurance company has a program that will track your driving patterns through a sensor and transmit it over wifi back to Progressive’s servers, where they process data. Not all applications say IoT in the name!
• Connected Vehicles in Smart Cities: The Future of Transportation (Interesting Engineering)

What Could Go Wrong?

The same issues we have with the computers and the internet extend out to the Internet of Things. What happens to all the data that is collected by these devices? How can the information be used? By whom? What can we do to keep our information and personal identities safe and secure?

The internet is here to stay. Check out these resources to learn how to keep yourself safe in a connected world:

• IoT Knowledgebase for Policy and Regulation: Learn what is on the radar for regulating and tracking safety concerns in the world of IoT.
• GSMA IoT Security Guidelines and Assessment 
• Top 10 IoT Vulnerabilities (Network World)
• Shaping the Future of Technology Governance: Iot, Robotics and Smart Cities (World Economic Forum)
• Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) is trying to build a safe, secure, interoperable option for IoT.
• Web of Things is also working towards safe, secure, and interoperable IoT.

How It's Made

Technology is all about people. The design, development, use and application of technology is all centered around people. Check out these resources to learn more about the teams and careers behind IoT:

• The Design of Things: Building in IoT connectivity: Deloitte describes the process behind IoT product design.
• Creating Functional Teams for the IoT: O’Reilly describes the ecosystem of industries and people impacted by IoT, and how to do IoT well.
• Career Opportunities in the IoT: Future of Tech describes the growing types of jobs coming from IoT.
• A Guide to IoT Careers: Northwestern University describes the IoT job market.
• The Team Data Science Process Lifecycle: Microsoft describes the five lifecycle stages of data science, and the common team roles and tasks in the process.

Try it in the Library

Try these tools and activities to learn more about IoT in your community:

• MIT App Inventor + IoT: Use Arduino or Microbits and build an app to control devices. There are plenty of tutorials to get started!
• Littlbebits: Ease into electronics with littlebits magnetic blocks for kids.
• Snap Circuits: Another fun and easy way to ease into electronics.
• Ubidots: Works with a variety of devices and app dashboards to quickly connect your devices to the web, collect and analyze data. Includes code free options.
• Arduino IoT Projects

Learning Communities

If you’re curious about how to get started in IoT, or already have a solution in mind that you want to build, head to these learning communities. Try getting involved in discussion forums, or ask for a consultation with an IoT expert to make sure you’re headed in the right direction for your solution.

• Ubidots: An IoT solution and community for everyone from hobbyist to professional. No code required! But you can if you want.
• IBM Internet of Things Community“Your destination for peer and expert insights to help unlock the power of data with AI and IoT to advance your digital reinvention.”
• Internet of Things Community: “The function of this IoT Community is to focus on the adoption and application of IoT in commercial environments, seeking to understand and contribute to applying the technology or overcoming the wide variety of barriers, inhibitors, and technical and operational issues.”
• Intel IoT Ecosystem: “Expertise and technologies for a connected world”. Learn about Intel solutions, talk to peers, or chat with an expert.
• Microsoft IoT Community: “Stay up to date, learn and discuss Internet of Things: Azure IoT, Sphere, Edge, RTOS, Time Series Insights, Windows IoT, Robotics, Security”.
• Industrial IoT Consortium: The place to discuss all things Industrial IoT.
• Internet of Things Community, IEEE: This Iot Community is for “those involved in research, implementation, application and usage” of IoT.