Subject areaData and infrastructure
Also known asInternet of Things
The IoT (Internet of Things) is the network of physical objects fitted with sensors, a small computer and a connection, which collect data about their surroundings or their own operation and exchange them without a person stepping in.
A thermostat that adjusts itself, a machine that reports its status, a shelf that counts its products are all IoT objects.
In retail the IoT is one of the pillars of smart retail: sensors, electronic labels and beacons (small transmitters that detect a nearby phone) tell you what happens in the store the way a website tells you what happens on its pages. The value lies in the data the objects produce, so the IoT usually goes hand in hand with data analytics and artificial intelligence. One of the first connected objects designed for the home was the Nabaztag, the rabbit that read out the weather and email.
An example
In a manufacturing plant, sensors on the machines flag abnormal vibration before a bearing fails; maintenance steps in during the shift change instead of stopping the line for a breakdown.
Enrico Giubertoni. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0: you may quote, translate and adapt this entry with the author’s name and a link, stating any changes. For commercial use, write to info@enricogiubertoni.com
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