Discursive and Case Based Analysis of Internet of Things - Literature review Example

INTERNET OF THINGS: LITERATURE REVIEW INTRODUCTION The internet has provided a platform for immense development in the way people undertake their daily activities. The internet of things (IoT) has been a fundamental development which has the connection between various things in daily life. This technological development has been fundamental in connecting thing, thus enabling communication between different object. The internet of things has significantly improved the object-to-object and person-to-object forms of communication, consequently creating a connection between these elements. This development remains fully aligned with technological advancement and the transformation of communication between various elements. Through the technology, smart environments have been created, through reduction of communication time taken in exchanging messages. INTERNET OF THINGS The terminology of “Internet of Things” was first introduced at MIT and was used in describing a network of objects. This included the capability for objects to interact autonomously, and organise themselves, consequently converging the physical objects into the digital world of internet[1]. This concept is based upon the idea of the global network connecting computers, but enables everyday objects to become interconnected in a similar manner. The concept enables the application of state-of-the-art into different fields and performing common functions. At the heart of the concept of IoT lies the belief that objects can communicate among themselves and make decisions based on the communication. The communication is enhanced through enabling the objects to collect data, which they share and initiate action, just like a human being would do. The internet of things presents a technological internet-based approach for connecting objects to enable them become active elements of the internet. The function of activity will become enhanced the objects having the capacity to exchange information between themselves and their surroundings[2]. The IoT involves communication between different objects and enables the active involvement of objects in communication. The network through which these objects connect remains different from the commonly utilised layered networks. Though this could be utilised to a limited extent, the communication network remains different. The development and implementation of these smart technologies remains relatively limited within many aspects and the networks are still in the development stages. Computing techniques The internet of things presents a concept which has resulted in multidisciplinary developments in various fields. This development has created a common ground upon which different industries can effective utilise the technology of IoT. This is commonly performed through introducing a form of intelligence among common objects to enable them gather information, and subsequently make decisions based on the available information. In seeking to achieve an effective integration of the objects involved within the system, different computing techniques are utilised in the development of smart spaces. Despite the increased technological advancements, many of the approaches adopted become obsolete because of the continuous development occurring upon the objects involved within the system. The fundamental characteristics defining objects within these systems are the following Embedded: there are many objects which are networked and integrated together into a single system Personalised: the systems function according to the desires of the administrator or user Adaptive: the objects can effective change in response to the user requirements Anticipatory: they can be able to anticipate the desires of the user without any form of conscious mediation Ambient intelligence Ambient intelligence can be described as the creation of an electronic environment which is sensitive to the presence of individuals. The sensitivity element induces a predetermined action which commonly occurs as the responsiveness to the environment. Within the context of ambient intelligence, devices commonly undertake functions which are aimed at providing support to humans. This support comes in the form of response generated following the sensing of presence of human beings[3]. The techniques has been adversely utilised in the automation of electronic lights within buildings. The installed motion sensors commonly gather information over duration of time and upon sensing movement, they switch on the lights within a building. The technologies utilised in actualising the technique of ambient intelligence include, sensors, ICT implants, affective computing among other. These enable quick gathering of information then transferring it to another object for translation or action to be initiated. Ubiquitous computing This refers to a computing technique which seeks to avail computing in almost every environment which humans exist. This is an advanced computing concept which avails computing among different devices, in different locations, and through the utilisation of different formats[4]. The interaction of the user and the computer occurs through the utilisation of different objects which are fitted with operating systems, which support user interface. Mobile computing and artificial intelligence are some of the aspects which are involved within the ubiquitous computing technique. The core element of this technique implies a vision of inexpensive devices which are networked and distributed into different aspects of daily lives, and ultimately turned towards a common-place ends. This technology commonly combines different technologies in enhancing information gathering and sharing. This technique has been fundamental in enabling day-to-day devices to remain readily available among different users. The utilisation of this technology readily avails different objects by enabling access. This includes the capability for a smart meter to be installed into a system to ensure readings can be undertaken from different locations[3]. The fundamental problem with the increased utilisation of this technique remains the security concerns since data can be retrieved form any person. Context awareness This refers to the characteristic of mobile devices to become aware of the surrounding environment. The location within which the devices become identified with remains the determining factor of the functioning of the device. Context awareness ensures that the devices become flexible in order to adapt to the different locations and the prevailing conditions. The concept originated from the previous techniques of ambient intelligence and ubiquitous computing, which was necessitated by the desire to link environmental changes into the computer systems, which commonly remained static[5]. Many of the home appliances which can be fitted with embedded devices become enabled to communicate to mobile devices, consequently enabling access from remote locations. The devices become enabled to analyse a situations and present information regarding the environment, making the devices become increasingly adaptable to varying environments. DATA INTEGRATION The IoT presents a network of intelligent objects with the capability for making decisions following processing of the information presented by the objects. The aspect of information processing becomes decentralised and communication channels are utilised in delivering information to these locations[6]. The decentralisation of the decision-making process remains the significant feature of the modern systems, which seek to provide autonomous control of the decision making process. Achieving the element of total autonomous control in the decision making process, requires the object to be able to integrate effectively with one another. The element of integration enhances communication by allowing the objects to interpret the presented data, consequently utilising it in decision making process. The existence of relationships between the various objects remains essential in establishing proper data integration. This commonly allows a unique access to the data collected by the different objects involved within the system. Since communication cannot remain continuous between the objects, data storage must be established. The data can be stored within systems embedded into the objects, like sensor networks monitoring presence of individuals to control lighting, or within heterogeneous systems. The storage system adopted is determined by the level of integration existing between the objects and the decentralised decision making element. Autonomous cooperation between the various objects, which is essential in sustaining data integration, presents several challenges to the data integration aspect. The challenges arise from three different aspects of heterogeneity, availability and distribution network of the data collectors. These challenges necessitate data integrations through innovative approaches, which mitigate the adverse effects contained within the challenges. Semantic data integration provides different approaches which could be fundamental in offering solutions to the existing integration challenges. The semantic approach supports the application of IoT of autonomous cooperating processes, combining ontology-based with service-based integration. SMART SPACES Smart spaces can be described as environments which have been artificially created through utilisation of technology and by interlinking numerous devices to create a single functioning system. In creating a smart space, the element of creativity remains utilised at the highest application in establishing tangible interactive application which function as a single unit[7]. Different devices within the environment become interlinked through a network which enables them to communicate among themselves. The devices become enables to collect information and share the information, consequently enabling a human to retrieve the information from a different location. The concept of smart spaces presents individuals with the capability of performing different tasks which could have been time consuming without the technology. The creation of smart environments like a home remains an aspect which could be actualised through the internet of things. The communication channels utilised by these devices which are connected remains independent of the internet. This has enabled the technology to become effective and useful within remote locations, where the internet might not be available[8]. The application of IoT technology has significant transformed how individuals conduct business and their daily livelihoods. Smart spaces have been created following the concept of the human approaches in undertaking various activities. Automation of different functions has been significant in the creation of smart spaces. Within these spaces the objects within the environment perform the functions which would have been performed by human beings, residing within the area. Despite the advancement in technology, which has resulted in the presence of these elements, the application of IoT technology still remains relatively limited to certain areas. The transposition from cultural practice to the application of technology in the creation of an environment, in which objects become aware of the environment, remains a fundamental element in the development of smart spaces. The capability for devices to become aware of their environment forms the building block for the development of smart spaces, through effective utilisation of technological processes[9]. Exploration into the process of creating these environments remains one of the essential aspects which could make these technological environments become applicable within different settings. This would enable the elaboration of different concepts which can enable the creation of different paradigms in smart spaces. The utilisation of IoT technology within different aspects of daily activities presents individuals with the capacity for undertaking different functions from a single location. The network created enables communication to occur between different unrelated objects involved within a single system. This occurs through the creation of a network, similar to the internet, through which objects and individuals can interact by sharing information[10]. The application of IoT has been fundamental in enhancing effectiveness of individuals through keeping them informed about situations. This commonly eliminates the lengthy process of undertaking checks manually to ascertain the functioning of the objects. Though the manual checks cannot become completely eliminated, the checks become limited in seeking to ascertain the effective functioning of the objects’ devices involved in the IoT network. Creation of smart spaces involves the utilisation of pervasive computing infrastructure in seeking to exploit web technologies. The devices contained within the system become enabled to perform different functions through collection of data which become shared among other devices, consequently enabling other devices to perform various actions. Through the utilisation of IoT technology, physical materials become merged with digital aspects through incorporation of computing entities and subsequently creating a smart space. Many of the appliances which are contained within the system utilise sensors to gather information about the location of companion appliances[3]. This effectively enables the sharing of information between the appliances, consequently creating an environment through which the appliances become closely linked to each other. The application utilised within these environments must remain context aware for effective and quick adaptation to the changing environment. Challenges for development of smart spaces The utilisation and development of context aware appliances remains the fundamental element in the establishment of smart spaces. Development of smart space entirely depends on ambient intelligence and context-aware as the fundamental basic computing techniques[11]. The utilisation of sensors in the different projects which are implemented in development of smart spaces remains a significant aspect. The sensors enable the appliances to become aware of changes occurring within the environment and initiate the essential changes in seeking to ensure the conditions return to the normal settings. There are three fundamental issues which must be addressed in seeking to develop a smart space. These issues include the following key issues Explicit representation This can be defined as the requirement to represent all the different elements which are essential in undertaking a basic function. The various appliances working within the system present heterogeneous data collected from different sources within the environment. A central location for interpreting the heterogeneous data remains an essential requirement for these systems[2]. The development of a centre for performing these functions forms a fundamental challenge in the development of a smart space. The context meanings must be represented explicitly for the different appliances involved to able to understand the meaning of the presented data. Context querying This refers to the generation of questions which the appliances collection information always seeks to answer. These questions present the system with the fundamental functions, which the system performs as a way of creating a smart space. The smart space commonly contains numerous contexts and the applications must be able to access specified contexts within the space. Development of the capability to answer different context queries remains a significant challenge in the development of smart spaces. Context reasoning This can be defined as the capability for the applications to present descriptions of situations which have been recorded. Although sensors can effectively provide contextual information, the applications commonly infer the information presented. This aspect of making inference presents a significant challenge in seeking to ascertain the accuracy of the presented information. SMART HOME The application of the concept of smart space can be effectively adopted in creating a smart home. Simple home appliances have been technologically improved to present essential information to other devices and people as well[2]. Within many manufacturing industries, the IoT technology has been fundamental in monitoring processes and the progress. The transferability of these technologies into the home setting could make the management of households become relatively simplified. Many of the appliances utilised within the households would become connected through a virtual network and enable communication to occur between these appliances. Home appliances become fitted with sensors which would enable collection of data, which initiates a predetermined course of action. A darkness sensor for example would initiate automatic switching on of the lighting system. The personalisation of objects within our homes could be fundamental in enhancing the operations undertaken within the household. The IoT technology remains a fundamental aspect which can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of functions undertaken through continuous provision of information to individuals[6]. Information remains the fundamental key towards enhancement of the utilisation of IoT in the management of systems. Provision of information will enable the objects to make decisions based on the available information. The communication occurring between the objects enables each object to gain essential information from other objects, which are part of the system. The models involved commonly share simple networks which remain tuned towards achieving common goals, within the system[10]. The user interface and the modelling of these systems remains the fundamental challenge facing IoT. The aspect of ubiquitous computing remains an essential research area which could significantly advance the application of this technology within the household setting. Many organisations utilise automated systems in measuring available stock and making requisitions. Through the IoT, smart household fridges can be able to make orders for replenishment. Ambient intelligence can be effectively utilised in installing electric systems which could monitor movements and enhance security within the households[12]. While many limitations remain present within the various aspects, increased research on ubiquitous computing and ambient intelligence has been fundamental in the enhancement of the IoT application. The element of pervasive computing has increasingly widened the understanding and utilisation of IoT, within different settings. CONCLUSION The aspect of internet of things has significantly transformed computing by enabling different devices to behave in a similar manner as computers. Communication between objects has created a network similar to the internet, consequently resulting in the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) concept. The application of different computing techniques has been fundamental in the development of the concept and increased accessibility of common appliance from different locations. These computing techniques have made objects to become embedded, adaptive, personalised and anticipatory; making objects have a significant level of intelligence, which can enable them to make decisions without conscious mediation[8]. The fundamental element in the effective functioning of the systems created remains the capability to integrate different forms of data, in order to initiate responsive action. The effective communication between these objects remains essential in the creation of a smart space – a space in which basic human functions are performed by objects. Smart environments could be applied within different setting like healthcare and within households to lighten the activities involved within these environments. REFERENCES [1] S. Wellsandt, T. Wuest, C. Durugbo, and K.-D. Thoben, “The Internet of Experiences – Towards an Experience-Centred Innovation Approach,” in Advances in Production Management Systems. Competitive Manufacturing for Innovative Products and Services, C. Emmanouilidis, M. Taisch, and D. Kiritsis, Eds. Berlin: Springer Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 669–676. [2] N. Wang and W. Wu, “The Architecture Analysis of Internet of Things,” in Computer and Computing Technologies in Agriculture V, Berlin: Springer Heidelberg, 2012, pp. 193–198. [3] X. Wang, J. S. Dong, C. Chin, S. R. Hettiarachchi, and D. Zhang, “Semantic Space: An Infrastructure for Smart Spaces,” Computing, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 67–74, 2002. [4] S. Poslad, Ubiquitous Computing Smart Devices, Smart Environments and Smart Interaction. New Jersey: Willey, 2009. [5] J. W. Kaltz, J. Ziegler, and S. Lohmann, “Context-aware Web Engineering: Modeling and Applications,” Rev. d’Intelligence Artif., vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 439–458, 2005. [6] O. Hersent, D. Boswarthick, and O. Elloumi, The Internet of Things: Key Applications and Protocols. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2012. [7] C. Prehofer, J. van Gurp, V. Stirbu, S. Satish, S. Tarkoma, C. di Flora, and P. P. Liimatainen, “Practical Web-Based Smart Spaces,” IEEE Pervasive Comput., vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 72–80, 2010. [8] D. Uckelmann, M. Harrison, and F. Michahelles, Architecting the Internet of Things. New York: Springer Heidelberg, 2011, p. 382. [9] M. Roelands, L. Claeys, M. Godon, M. Geerts, M. A. Feki, and L. Trappeniers, “Enabling the Masses to Become Creative in Smart Spaces,” in Architecting the Internet of Things, D. Uckelmann, M. Harrison, and F. Michahelles, Eds. New York: Springer Heidelberg, 2011, pp. 37–64. [10] H. Zhou, The Internet of Things in the Cloud: A Middleware Perspective. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis, 2012. [11] M.-Y. Chen and E. D. Lughofer, “Smart space technology innovations,” Libr. Hi Tech, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 197–200, 2013. [12] C. Pfister, Getting Started with the Internet of Things: Connecting Sensors and Microcontrollers to the Cloud. New York: O’Reilly Media, Inc., 2011, p. 194.  Read More