Top 5 Tech Trends on the IoT
The network of connected devices known as the Internet of Things (IoT) is a quickly expanding area of the technology sector. Here’s a list of the top five new technologies which connect and organize the Iot.
1. Next Generation Wireless Networks
To support the growth of connected devices on the IoT, robust wireless networks are becoming an even more necessary component of our modern infrastructure. Two key players in improving seamless wireless connectivity are 5G and Wi-Fi 6.
5G is the 5th generation of mobile networks. Using millimeter radio waves and a dense network of small cell sites, 5G improves connection speeds, bandwidth, and coverage for mobile devices. This fast and robust mobile data network is necessary to support the demands of the IoT.
Wi-Fi 6 is the newest generation of Wi-Fi. Complimenting 5G and wireline connections, Wi-Fi 6 will help sustain the demands of the IoT. Using the 6GHz band, Wi-Fi 6 can handle more simultaneous devices on a single network. It also comes with other improvements including longer device battery life and increased security measures.
Together, along with fixed fiber-optic connections, these wireless networks will create the environment in which the IoT will live.
2. Edge Computing
Edge computing is a tech trend which brings the user closer to the server processing their data. Unlike cloud computing which uses a remote location, Edge processes data on a nearby storage device or even the device itself.
By reducing the distance and the amount of data that needs to travel, Edge computing nearly eliminates latency and bandwidth issues. This enables real-time data processing needed for up and coming technologies like autonomous vehicles.
Additionally, Edge computing creates a new level of security in the connected world of the IoT. With endless data collection and the use of AI to make decisions, Edge computing offers improved privacy because data can be processed on a local device.
3. Blockchain
In simple terms, Blockchain is a permanent ledger not controlled by any one entity. The transactions in the ledger are stored on multiple devices and cannot be altered. Because of its distributed structure, Blockchain is a popular form of securing information. Industries like banking and medicine are already using blockchain technology for data protection.
While many know it as the technology behind Bitcoin, the application of Blockchain is becoming more popular in a variety of industries. Many experts believe that blockchain will usher in a new age of smart contracts, sales, and tracking.
On the IoT, blockchain is used for cyber security purposes and to securely distribute real-time information. As the Internet of Things continues to grow, blockchain will become even more necessary for securing mass amounts of sensitive consumer and business data.
4. Smart Transportation
Soon, cars and semi trucks will all be connected to the IoT. These smart vehicles can improve safety, reduce emissions, and offer diagnostic information. In the commercial transportation industry, semi trucks on the IoT can optimize fleet management and route mapping.
Furthermore, smart transportation is moving closer to autonomous vehicles. These self-driving cars and trucks must be connected to the IoT in order to communicate with each other, process real-time data, and navigate safely.
It is likely that smart transportation will use 5G, Edge computing, and blockchain in some capacity. With new and advanced forms of connectivity, security, and data processing, smart vehicles and autonomous transportation are growing trends in tech right now.
5. Smart Cities
Smart homes have been the talk of tech in the past few years. Since then, the consumer market has become full of smart home technologies including thermostats, lights, appliances, and security systems.
But now, smart living has also expanded into cities. Communities are upgrading their infrastructure to improve efficiency. Smart buildings can collect data to optimize power, water usage, and waste disposal in real-time. Using sensors and live data, cities connected to the IoT can optimize traffic patterns, meet power demands during peak hours, or dim street lights when there is less traffic.
Urban planners believe that investing in connecting their cities to the IoT will bolster their social and economic progress.
Fiber-Optic Networks and the IoT
Experts predict that by 2025 there could be more than 30 billion devices on the Internet of Things (IoT)1. As technology for and on the IoT continues to grow, so do the networks needing to sustain it.
With fiber-optic technology as the backbone of advanced wireless networks like 5G and Wi-Fi 6, almost the entire IoT will be reliant on fiber infrastructure.
The expansion of fiber-optic networks is an important component of our modern infrastructure in the age of the IoT. Fiber is and will continue to be the best backbone technology to connect us to the Internet of Things and ultimately to each other.
Hunter Communications is committed to building fiber-optic infrastructure throughout Southern Oregon and Northern California. Because fiber networks are vital to modern life and participation on the IoT, Hunter is dedicated to bringing fiber-optic internet to local businesses and residents.
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