What Is IoT? Let's Get to Know the Basics of Smart Home Technology!

For those who like to explore technological developments, you must have often heard the terms IoT and smart home . Still in the same family, these two terms are often mixed up even though their essence is somewhat different.

In principle, IoT only defines a concept, while smart home is one form of application of the concept. Well, for those who are still confused, the following explanation of what IoT is can be an introduction!

What is IoT?

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Before delving into what IoT is, it is certainly mandatory to first understand what IoT stands for. Short for Internet of Things , IoT is a concept that refers to a network ecosystem that connects all devices to the cloud and between the devices themselves .

If now perhaps only smartphones , PCs, and smart TVs can connect to the internet, the IoT concept also embraces home lights to cars. In this network, devices can exchange data and operate automatically following certain parameters.

For example, when the doorbell camera detects that the car has returned home from the office, the smart lock will automatically unlock the front door. At the same time, the smart light bulb will greet the arrival of the BIOTA admin with blue light to help relieve stress.

Well, this smart home concept is one of the most popular examples of IoT . Rather than always having to bother taking care of all the devices in the house one by one, smart homes and IoT technology can ease the burden of daily routines and make life more comfortable.

How does IoT work?

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The history of IoT actually began in 1999 when technology expert Kevin Ashton first introduced the term and concept of IoT. However, IoT applications only became widespread in the 2010s when technological developments began to keep up with the revolutionary concept.

By embedding a sophisticated yet tiny microcontroller , everyone can now control and manipulate millions of colors on a smart light bulb directly from their smartphone . Like a processor on a PC, this microcontroller becomes the 'brain' of the IoT concept.

To understand the mechanism of how IoT works, the first step is to look at what elements make up an Internet of Things ecosystem . In practice, IoT components themselves are divided into 4 main elements:

• Sensors/actuators : Depending on their function, IoT devices interact with their environment using sensors or actuators. Sensors collect data, while actuators perform an action based on that data, such as smart lights that automatically turn off when the sensor detects an empty room.

• Connectivity : The key to how IoT works is in the interaction between devices, and of course there must be a communication medium that bridges the interaction. Generally, smart home and IoT devices use wireless communication such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or smart home- specific protocols such as Thread.

• Data Processing : In agriculture, IoT sensors play an important role in collecting data on land conditions. However, Internet of Things devices are not yet sophisticated enough to process the data, so they require the help of a smartphone or PC for complex functions like this.

• User interface : IoT components not only include physical devices, but also software. To manipulate millions of color shades available on Smart Light Bulb, for example, the BIOTA application on a smartphone serves to bridge the interaction between devices and users.

An example of the synergy between the four IoT components above can be seen directly in the following smart home application :

• Smart Door Sensor detects the house door opening at 8 pm, which signals the end of the user's 9 to 5 struggle .

• Via Wi-Fi, the Smart Door Sensor sends data to the BIOTA application which will automatically run the 'going home from work' routine as I have previously arranged.

• The BIOTA application will instruct other smart devices such as smart speakers to play chill playlists and Smart LED Strips to emit blue light to help BIOTA admins relieve accumulated fatigue.

Smart home itself only represents a small part of the IoT examples and their applications. Not only in the hands of general consumers, the potential of IoT has also begun to be seen in various industries such as livestock and agriculture.

Examples of IoT and its applications in the real world

From amateur runners using fitness trackers to optimize their running routines to smart farming to optimize fertilizer and water use, here are some examples of IoT that are already starting to be widely practiced.

Examples of IoT applications in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries

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With the world's population continuing to grow, the issue of food security amidst climate change is no longer just a campaign topic. Burning forests to clear land for agriculture cannot be an option, the solution must be to increase the yield of existing land.

Using IoT sensors to monitor crop, land, and weather conditions, farmers can design optimal irrigation and fertilization systems. Water and fertilizer can be prioritized on dry land and only during the dry season.

In fisheries and livestock, the use of IoT sensors can monitor the condition of livestock. In addition to anticipating outbreaks, data from sensors can be used to optimize diets and environmental conditions to improve the standard of living of livestock.

Examples of IoT applications in developing exercise and healthy living patterns

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For the general public, wearable technology is one example of IoT that can be attached all day long. Both fitness trackers and smartwatches can now optimize healthy lifestyles, as if having a free personal trainer .

Sensors in the wearable can measure parameters such as heart rate or maximum oxygen intake (VO2 max). By synchronizing with a smartphone app , this data can be the basis for optimizing your exercise routine.

Examples of IoT applications in smart home technology

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As explained above, smart home technology is the most popular example of IoT. The benefits of IoT in the fisheries sector may seem far away, but seeing the flowing effect on the Smart LED Strip while gaming on a PC can bring its own happiness.

Whether for aesthetic needs, or in terms of security through the use of smart CCTV, the advantages of smart homes have penetrated all aspects of quality of life.

Examples of IoT applications in the transportation sector

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Whether a public transportation warrior or using a private car, the blessings of IoT are never far from the heart. The live tracking feature of the TransJakarta fleet on Google Maps, for example, is one example of an IoT application.

Using GPS, TransJakarta route details, and road conditions, public transportation warriors can track where the bus is currently, and when the bus arrives at a certain stop. As for those driving, examples of IoT applications appear in the form of Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Similar to wearables but for cars, the head unit screen that supports Apple Carplay can sync with a smartphone for easy navigation. With a voice assistant , users can focus on the road while talking to Apple Siri to organize playlists while driving.

What are the benefits of IoT in home life?

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Just as office communication has become easier thanks to Slack and class reunion plans can be made through WhatsApp groups, interconnection makes everything more practical. The same is true for device interconnection in the IoT ecosystem.

From home comfort and security to personalization of living spaces, here are the benefits of IoT in everyday life routines:

1. Eliminate boredom from daily routines

Coming home from work while carrying groceries is always a hassle, because 10 minutes can be wasted just for acrobatics digging the keys out of the bag. Imagine if smart CCTV could detect me coming home and instruct the smart lock to open the door, everything could be ' satset ' immediately.

Well, optimizing daily routines through smart homes like this is one of the benefits of IoT. This is just one example of a smart home , the bigger the ecosystem of IoT devices in the house, the more additional time to spend on the Netflix watch list.

2. Maintain the security of an empty house

Not only for convenience, the function of CCTV is essentially as the front line of home security. Thanks to smart technology such as motion detection and smart home integration , smart cameras can proactively guard the home without having to be monitored 24 hours a day.

When you're at the office, someone is looking around in front of your house? Smart CCTV can send an alert via smartphone notification . A package arrives when the house is empty? Just greet the courier via the doorbell camera and instruct them to leave the package in front.

This is all possible because the BIOTA smart camera is integrated with the BIOTA application on the smartphone . So whether you are sunbathing on Gili Trawangan, you can always update with the condition of the house anytime, from anywhere.

3. Make the house more homey

In the past, I often got frustrated because the lights in my room were too bright. With smart lights that can be adjusted for light intensity and color, the situation in my room is now always conducive to WFH or gaming .

Well, with the wide range of customization options available on IoT devices, I can be satisfied tinkering with my home as I wish. Want a caffeine intake ready to greet you every morning? Just plug the coffee machine into the smart plug and create a schedule in the BIOTA application, everything can be facilitated, really!

What is IoT? How it works, examples, and benefits

In addition to uniting two lovebirds who are separated by the world, the internet can also facilitate communication between devices through the concept of IoT. With just the addition of connectivity, watches and light bulbs can be transformed into extraordinary things.

No need for FOMO, tasting the potential of IoT can also be started with BIOTA Smart Home . With a variety of smart home products and user-friendly applications, upgrading your home to be smart doesn't have to be expensive and complicated as long as you're with BIOTA!

Cover image adapted from Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels