Understanding the IoT

Recently, we have been hearing more and more about IoT, which is one of the areas that are expected to grow rapidly with 5G. Do you know what the IoT is?

What is IoT?

IoT stands for "Internet of Things". Simply put, it is a system in which things are equipped with communication functions to connect and cooperate with the Internet.

The purpose of IoT is to make various things in the world, including not only PCs, smartphones, and game consoles, but also home appliances such as TVs and refrigerators, and automobiles, have communication functions, and to connect them to the Internet and communicate with each other in order to achieve an efficient society. As the IoT spreads, we can expect to discover new values that have never existed before.

What IoT can do for you

A typical example is remote control of remote objects. It is often used for applications that make life more convenient, like controlling products at home with a smartphone. It is expected to be used not only at home, but also in public facilities such as schools and hospitals.

In addition to remote control, IoT technology is used to monitor the movement and status of remote objects and share data.

Smartwatches and smart speakers are already well known for their use of IoT technology, but recently, more and more applications are becoming possible by connecting to the Internet, such as refrigerators that not only serve to store food, but also to provide recipes. In addition, automated driving, automated warehouse operations, police, medical institutions, and transportation are also expected to develop through the introduction of IoT.

IoT growing rapidly with 5G

The number of devices that will be connected to the Internet with 5G is expected to be far greater for IoT devices than for smartphones and other devices.

With conventional 4G, it was difficult to connect all IoT devices, such as home appliances, to the Internet in terms of capacity, but with 5G, it will be possible because the number of devices that can be connected at the same time will increase dramatically.

In addition, remote medical work and operation of machines in factories require the "ultra-low latency" of 5G because the response after operation must not be delayed.

Conclusion

In today's increasingly complex society, IoT is indispensable to manage and coordinate things efficiently. In the future, there will be more and more convenient goods and services that utilize the IoT. We too would like to incorporate the IoT into our daily lives.