ITEC842 Report: Analysis of IoT Technology and Applications

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, exploring its evolution, current state, and future prospects. It begins with a definition of IoT, tracing its origins to 1999 and highlighting the role of RFID technology. The report then delves into the evolution of IoT, discussing key milestones such as the coining of the term by Kevin Ashton, the introduction of the first internet-connected refrigerator, and the development of various communication protocols and standards. The present situation of IoT is examined, emphasizing its widespread use in diverse applications, including smart homes, connected cars, and manufacturing plants. The report also explores the future of IoT, predicting the increasing adoption of IoT-based home appliances and the integration of IoT in various sectors. A case study of SmartSense and its NB-IoT connected AirQ sensor illustrates the practical benefits of IoT, such as reduced energy consumption and real-time data collection, and strategic advantages. The report concludes with a discussion on the role of IoT in government organizations, particularly in environmental monitoring and management, emphasizing the importance of cost-effectiveness and strategic planning for successful implementation.

Running head: TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN STRATEGIES
TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN STRATEGIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
Word Count - 2500

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Question 1
What is IoT?
The technology that has been taken under consideration for the project is IoT or that is
commonly known as Internet of Things. The coin of the term IoT came into existence in the year
of 1999. Most of the credits behind the coining of the term is given to Kevin Ashton who is the
co-founder of Auto-ID Centre, a product of MIT. IoT or Internet of Things is a technology
having an ecosystem where the physical objects are connected into a network and the desired
functionalities of the devices are executed without any human interference1. The term ‘things’ in
the phrase can be any object starting from any medical devices that monitor a particular health
parameter to the built-in sensors in a vehicle that accordingly with the situation. The devices
have an ability to transfer data over the network that they are connected in, and can perform the
desired functions, without any intervention of human intelligence. This transfer of data, either in
the same network or external environment, makes the device to take the necessary decisions. In
the recent world of technology, IoT is in widespread use and is being implemented in devices all
across the fields. Starting from daily home appliances, the use of this technology can be seen in
many medical devices that are used to measure and monitor different health parameters. Now, it
is not necessary to be present physically to operate the devices and can be operated from remote
locations, provided that the user and the device is connected to a certain network.
Past of IoT
The phrase “Internet of Things” came into existence in 1999 by holding the hands of
Auto-ID Centre by MIT. The first course of the technology used the RFID technology that is the
Radio Frequency Identification2. The use of the RFID procedure was appropriate as at that time,

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that is 1999, the wireless network was in its infant stage and the cellular network had not
switched completely to an IP based configuration. Hence, at that time it was impossible to
configure the devices in an IP based system, and the absence of IPv6 made the possibility extinct
from coming into existence. There would no availability of enough unique IP addresses to
configure all of the devices to join the network. Therefore, at that point, RFID was thought of as
the best possible way and cheaper too3.
Evolution and Present situation of IoT
The evolution of IoT took place in a series of events and at different time intervals. In
1999, with the efforts of Kevin Ashton, IoT started to exist as a novel technology through the
usage of RFID tag4. Due to the absence of proper wireless technology and IPv6 the IP
configuration was not possible to implement. Again in the same year, Bill Joy, coined the
concept of Device to Device communication through his “Six Webs” framework. The next year,
that is in 2000 LG launched the first ever Internet connected refrigerator, LG Internet Digital
DIOS with a LAN port that is used for IP connectivity5. Later, in 2001, the co-director of Auto-
ID Centre of MIT, David Brock introduced a new scheme of for the identification of objects. He
replaced EPC that is Electronic Product Code with the existing UPC that is Universal Product
Code or the traditional bar code. In 2003, Project JXTA-C: Enabling a Web of Things is
published at the 36th Annual Hawaii International Conference by Bernard Traversat along with
his team6. In the same year, a special network was launched that facilitates connection of the
millions of tags that are available throughout the world. EPC or the Electronic Product Code was
also introduced in the same exhibition that is the McCormick Place Conference Centre.
Thereafter lots of parallel inventions took place which was followed by the invention of single-
board microcontroller in 20057. The project was submitted by a faculty of the Interaction Design

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Institute Ivrea, Italy. Later in the same year the International Telecommunications Union make a
publication of a report that was titled as “The Internet of Things” and it was the one of the 7-part
report that was available on the Internet. Later, with other advancements and further researches
at present the situation of IoT can be considered as a settled technology. Today there are
connected homes with respective appliances, connected cars with sensors and auto-functioning
features, manufacturing plants with IoT features and solar trackers based on IoT.
Future of IoT
With time advancing, IoT is taking the hold of various sectors. More interests can be seen
regarding the IoT based home appliances and people are leaning more towards these devices as
these appliances can be controlled from a remote location by the user and when the user is at
home, it is not necessary for the user to go to the device and control it. Rather with the help of
smartphone applications, they can control the device as well as can show their creativities too. It
is expected that by the year 2020, there will be 21 billion of devices that will be connected to this
technology8. Smart homes, lighting systems are some of the futuristic approaches that has been
planned to be available within next few years. Although some are already in use, models have
been created, implementation in reality will take time. The devices are manufactured in such a
way so that the devices will be able to record maximum data, because analysing multiple
variable will make the decision more trustworthy as all of the parameters will be under
consideration. Better encryption methods are in research which will ensure better security of the
data that will be collected byt eh devices.
Successful use IoT

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There are various organisations who hold hands of IoT for beneficial aspects. One of the
cases that worth mentioning is SmartSense and its new NB-IoT connected version of AirQ
sensor9. Primarily AirQ or formally known as Air Quality is the sensor that is used to detect the
harmful pollutants mixed in the air and to identify the quality of the air in different areas of the
world. SmartSense has collaborated with popular organisations of Croatia such as Deutsche
Telekom, T-Systems, Hrvatski Telekom, and the local operator Cosmote and Hub:Raum. This
particular device is capable of identifying gaseous emissions such as CO, SO2, NO, O3, NO2 and
also able to identify the particulate matters such as PM1, PM2.5 and PM10. This NB-IoT version
of AirQ is used for the betterment in its installation. Before, it used 3G or WiFi connection to
perform its functionalities, but after the use of IoT in its functionalities, the device can be
installed in any location and can be controlled off the grid and can benefit other governments
along with their regulatory measures10. By the implementation of IoT in the device, the
organisation received many fundamental benefits. Along with the primary benefits, SmartSense
also gained a strategic advantage. The fundamental benefits that they availed with the usage of
IoT are reduction in consumption of energy, increase in flexibility that is more coverage area will
be available for the device and availability of real-time data. The first one is certainly the best
among the other benefits. In this generation, where there is always a want of heavy energy
consumption of energy and there is non-availability of adequate energy producing resources, a
device that consumes less energy and all of the desired functionalities are carried out intact, the
device has to be considered as beneficial. Besides, the newly featured device will be able to
cover more area and can hence detect data from a larger area. Moreover, as there will be the
collection of real-time is facilitated, therefore, much more accurate data will be collected. Due to

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distribution of the total area among the number of devices, hence, a single device does not have
to cover a large area. This will also save energy consumption by the device.
All of the benefits that will be caused to the organisation will surely reflect in their
further strategies. It is certain that with the benefits through the products the company launches,
the benefits pave the way for the organisation to have an extra mile forward in the race of the
strategic advancements. As the newly built device has the features that will certainly make it
even more attractive as compared to the other devices that are relevant to the product. Hence, the
business of the company will surely be boosted and due to some additional benefits, the company
can plan for the future that others have not thought yet. Hence, it is evident that the use of IoT
surely made SmartSense gain an additional strategic advancement.
Government organisations, its functions and IoT
There are several departments in a government. All of the welfares are handled by the
government. Similarly, not just the welfares but also the integral parts of the society are handled.
One of such parameters that every government considers as a serious parameter is the
environment of that particular place. Every government is concerned about the environment that
exists in that particular place. In recent times, the issues with environment are never ending.
Every day a new issue can be found in the environment that is gradually polluting and damaging
the environment. All of the urban cities are facing this trouble. For instance, New York is
considered as one of the most advanced city of the world. People are always working and using
every means possible to save time. With that, without anyone’s concern, the environment is
gradually getting damaged. The environment department of United States is at a critical point
with the gradual destruction of the environment. Every possible measures are being adopted to

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save the environment from getting damaged by the deeds of human beings. Surveys reveal that
there many cities that fall under the category of the ozone polluted cities such as Los Angeles,
Bakersfield, Fresno, New York, and many more. The level of the pollutants such as gaseous
emissions, particulate matters in the air is gradually increasing in the cities of United States.
Hence, without proper measures this increment in the level of the pollution will certainly
threaten the well-being of all inhabitants of United States.
At different times, the government of the United States has taken various initiatives that
were primarily done for the people to be aware of the situation. However, it is probable that
introduction of an effective technology might have this issue out of context. IoT is one of such
technologies that can be addressed as a solution for the environmental situation in United States.
As discussed earlier in this report, the Air Quality in Croatia is helping the government to
measure the level of impurities present in the air. Such kinds of technology can be implemented
to find out ways and plan for a better future by decreasing the level of the pollution of the
environment. The sensors that these devices use are capable of detect6ing the harmful content of
the air and hence, the necessary measures can be taken and further planning could be based on
those results.
Although it is said that there is a necessity of the Internet of Things in the environment
department for the improvement in the environment, the costs and the planning are the key
subjects, focussing on which is important. From the start of this technology, IoT implementation
is getting cheaper with time. The feasibility for the implementation is increasing for IoT in
different sectors. Before opting the solution, it is necessary for the organisation to clearly
visualise about how the implementation will take place. In the first place there is a necessity of
the involvement of the IT department to inspect all the available resources and find out whether

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it will be feasible for the organisation to implement the solution or not. If all of the resources that
are necessary for the implementation can be afforded by the organisation, then the further
planning has to be done.
By resources, it means that the organisation has the facility that can organise the entire
project and can monitor throughout the execution of the processes. The financial investment is
also one of the key concerns behind any such implementation. Until and unless the organisation
becomes sure of the benefits that they are going to achieve after the implementation, it is not
possible for the organisation to invest a huge amount of money. Talking about the situation of
the environment of the United States, it has become crucial for the government to take steps that
will solve the issue of the environment. Hence, the environment department of the United States
has to collaborate with the IT department of the government so that a plan could be formulated
about the implementation of IoT as a solution to the issues. The discussion will make it easier for
the government to understand the inefficiencies and the possible ways to cover them. Besides, it
will be clear about the financial investment too.
Researches state that for the primary implementation of such devices ranges from $250 -
$500. This estimate has been given in respect to the residential installations. The best feature of
such devices is that the data that is recorded by the device do not need to be attended by any
analyst or observer. As this whole technology resides on the cloud platform, therefore, the data
automatically gets transferred to the databases those are stored in the cloud automatically. This
feature can be exploited by the government by requesting the citizens to install such devices in
their residential premises and the data that will be collected by the device can be analysed by the
environment specialists. Necessary measures can be planned according to the analysis. This will
facilitate the government to not to spend much for the technology to be implemented over the

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city. The rest of the part of the city where the people cannot afford to install such devices,
government will invest on such areas.
Although easy and planned, but government has to pay to the service providers for the
maintenance of the devices and to the IT professionals who will monitor the data and the
technical measures. For this investment to make, the government has to be enough convinced to
be assured about the technology. The benefits that the government can achieve from such IoT
device installation over the city is that no efforts needed for the collection of the data and the real
time data will help the analysts to come up with the appropriate plans for every area. Hence,
additional expenses will be restricted that would have been in existence if the collection of the
data has to be done manually. Besides, a survey does have a lot of complications and restrictions
that will not make the survey a successful one and the data that will be collected will not be
enough accurate to be analysed for taking necessary decisions.

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