ADVANCED & BUSINESS ENGLISH
What is it? The internet of things (IoT) is the network of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items - embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data. Scholars suggest to look at "Things" as an "inextricable mixture of hardware, software, data and service". These devices collect useful data with the help of various existing technologies and then autonomously flow the data between other devices. Current market examples include smart thermostat systems and washer/dryers that use Wi-Fi for remote monitoring.
Will it be bigger than the Industrial Revolution? The Internet of Things (IoT) has been labeled as "the next Industrial Revolution" because of the way it will change the way people live, work, entertain, and travel, as well as how governments and businesses interact with the world.
In fact, the revolution is already starting.
That brand new car that comes preloaded with a bunch of apps? Internet of Things. Those smart home devices that let you control the thermostat and play music? Internet of Things. That fitness tracker on your wrist that lets you tell your friends and family how your exercise is going? You get the point. But this is just the beginning. There will be 34 billion devices connected to the internet by 2020, up from 10 billion in 2015. IoT devices will account for 24 billion, while traditional computing devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc.) will comprise 10 billion. Nearly $6 trillion will be spent on IoT solutions over the next five years.
Businesses will be the top adopter of IoT solutions. They see three ways the IoT can improve their bottom line by lowering operating costs; increasing productivity; and expanding to new markets or developing new product offerings.
Governments are focused on increasing productivity, decreasing costs, and improving their citizens’ quality of life. They will be the second-largest adopters of IoT ecosystems.
Consumers will lag behind businesses and governments in IoT adoption. Still, they will purchase a massive number of devices and invest a significant amount of money in IoT ecosystems.
Existing examples Smart wearable clothing. They make tight-fitting clothing items that are filled with sensors that detect your heart rate, breathing rate and muscle activity. And don’t worry: You don’t have to wear the same dirty clothes every time you work out. The entire clothing line features a small core that slips into a pocket on shorts (it works with any pair), and it connects with the sensors in each item of clothing. The core then wirelessly delivers data to your smartphone. Helmet Sensors The Internet of Things has led to many performance-enhancing technologies and devices, but it’s also led to developments that help keep us safer when we play. Like, for example, these helmet sensors provide immediate transmission to an app that keeps track of hit count and force of impact, so you’ll know when a player has experienced a hit that may have resulted in a concussion. That way, you’ll always know when to stop play and seek examination. Smart fitness watch There are many watch and bracelet wearables on the market that help you monitor various facets of your workout, along with activities from your daily life that influence your health and fitness. It constantly keeps track of your heart rate, connects to GPS to record where you’re running and walking and has workout capabilities that give you step-by-step instructions and coaching. It also tracks your sleep, so you can make sure you’re getting enough rest for peak performance.
VOCABULARY physical device
fizikai eszköz
world-famous
világhíres
scholar
tudós
inextricable
kibogozhatatlan
interact
egymásra hat
adopter
felhasználó
lower cost
költésget csökkent
operation
működés
expand
terjeszkedni
decrease
csökkent
consumer
fogyasztó
purchase
beszerez
invest in
befektet
transmission
átadás