UPDATE AVAILABLE: This project guidebook has been replaced with a new version. This older version will no longer be available after August 1, 2019.
A growing trend in computing is the “Internet of Things” (abbreviated as: IoT) – objects or devices connected to the Internet (and/or to other devices) that can gather, process, and share data. These are also called connected devices or smart devices.
Most people already carry around an IoT device with them – a smartphone. Now many other connected devices are becoming available to consumers, businesses, and cities: wearable devices that track your health and fitness, voice-activated speakers that serve as a virtual assistant, smart thermostats that learn how to keep your home comfortable while also saving energy, smart streetlights that automatically brighten or dim based on how many pedestrians or vehicles are nearby, etc.
VIDEO: Top 5 Facts About The Internet of Things
Smart devices are programmed to process data and respond automatically to certain conditions. They have inputs, such as sensors, that gather data from the physical environment and/or outputs, such as actuators, that do something in the physical environment. Smart devices also send and/or receive data by communicating with apps, databases, or other devices through a network connection.
The Internet of Things has become possible due to advances in technology and manufacturing. Computing parts (such as chips, sensors, batteries, etc.) have become much smaller, more powerful, more energy-efficient, and less expensive. Wireless networking (such as cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) has become much faster, more energy-efficient, and more widespread. These advances have made it feasible to incorporate computing technology into almost any object, device, or environment.
Additional Resources for Background:
The Internet of Things - Interactive Data Visualization
What exactly is the Internet of Things? - Infographic
Copyright © 2016-2017 Michael Frontz and Jim Lyst, Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI
This project is part of the Computing by Design high school computer science curriculum developed for the Informatics Diversity-Enhanced Workforce (iDEW) program, an award-winning community partnership in central Indiana that is broadening student participation in computing and helping students develop the skills essential for success in the 21st century workplace.
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