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The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing.

With 5G technology now being rolled out around the world, the interconnectivity that is the trademark of the IoT is expected to mushroom to such an extent that 50 billion devices will soon be connected.

The impact of all this is monumental. There are few areas that won’t be impacted by IoT expansion.

Take manufacturing. There is a new industrial revolution taking place called Industry 4.0 that refers to the use of automation and data exchange in manufacturing. This movement would not be possible without the IoT advanced technology.

Autonomous robots, simulation, horizontal and vertical System Integration, additive manufacturing, data and analytics and augmented reality create a “smart factory” where machines, systems, and humans communicate with each other via interconnected devices in order to coordinate and monitor progress along an assembly line. In other words, networked devices provide sensor data and are digitally controlled.

IoT and Programmable Homes

Consumers have begun to see how device interconnectivity makes a regular home a smart one – but there’s much more to come. Any device in your home that uses electricity can be put on your home network and at your command. Whether you give that command by voice, remote control, tablet or smartphone, the home reacts. Most applications relate to lighting, home security, home theater and entertainment, and thermostat regulation – but who knows what will be on that list in a few years.

One forecasting company predicts that a typical family home will contain more than 500 smart devices by 2022.

The Internet of Things and Health Care

The IoT is opening up a world of possibilities in medicine. Smart devices will especially be prominent in monitoring patient health, which will free up doctors and encourage home health care. A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) for example is a device that helps diabetics to continuously monitor their blood glucose levels for several days at a time, by taking readings at regular intervals.

Smart CGMs like Eversense and Freestyle Libre send data on blood glucose levels to an app on iPhone, Android or Apple Watch, allowing the wearer to easily check their information and detect trends. The FreeStyle LibreLink app also allows for remote monitoring by caregivers, which could include the parents of diabetic children or the relatives of elderly patients.

Similarly, the smart insulin pen has the ability to automatically record the time, amount and type of insulin injected in a dose, and recommend the correct type of insulin injection at the right time.

The devices interact with a smartphone app that can store long-term data, help diabetes patients calculate their insulin dose, and even allow patients to record their meals and blood sugar levels to see how their food and insulin intake are affecting their blood sugar.

Clearly, the Internet of Things is changing everything – rapidly. To keep you in the loop, Tonex offers several different IoT courses covering everything from fundamentals to Industry 4.0 and cybersecurity issues.

For more information, questions, comments, contact us.

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