IoT Basics – A Guide to IoT Terms
This guide helps you understand the basics of Internet of Things and connected devices. We explain 185 IoT terms and technologies.
The Internet of Things encompasses a complex array of acronyms and terminology that can over-complicate understanding of the core technologies and functions that enable IoT deployments. This IoT glossary sets out definitions for popular technology, acronyms, terms, and systems to demystify the IoT industry and to serve as a handy guide to explain the background of IoT and introduce the newest terminology. We have divided IoT into five key sections for this glossary: IoT Definition, IoT Communications, IoT Connections, the IoT Market and IoT Security.
These five areas neatly segment the market so you can quickly locate relevant terminology. IoT is always moving and continuously innovating so even IoT industry veterans will encounter new technologies, acronyms and descriptions. We have included commonly used IoT terminology to provide a comprehensive yet still easy-to-use tool to help increase understanding and awareness of the technology, connectivity, markets and security that enable IoT. Download IoT Basics as a PDF or check out the other web pages below and learn more about IoT!
IoT Basics: IoT Definition
What Does IoT Stand for?
IoT (The Internet of Things) is where devices are connected to the internet that can be controlled or can be used to send information. This includes devices in households, businesses, factories, farms and cities that are accessible online. These devices can include anything from “smart” fridges, printers, webcams, meters, speakers, cellphones, washing machines, headphones to wearables.
These devices create a network whereby these physical objects – “things” – are connected and can ‘talk’ by sending information from sensors, software, and other technologies and exchange this data with other devices and systems over the internet.
There are more than 7 billion connected IoT devices today. This number is expected to grow to 10 billion by 2020 and 22 billion by 2025.
The physical devices of the Internet of Things around the world all collect and share data. Thanks to the arrival of super-cheap computer chips and the omni presence of wireless networks, it’s possible to turn anything, from something as small as a dental implant to something as big as a tractor, into a part of the IoT. Connecting all these different objects and adding sensors to them adds a level of digital intelligence, enabling them to communicate real-time data without involving a human being.
Ultimately, the Internet of Things is making the fabric of the world around us even more smarter and more responsive, merging the digital and physical universes.
