How IoT Makes your House Safer and Healthier

The Internet of Things; What is it?

If you’re an avid user of the Internet then you may have stumbled across this term a time or two. Basically it’s a part of the Internet that everyday objects are connected to, and allows them to send and receive data. Pretty much anything that you can interact with via your smartphone is considered part of the Internet of Things (IoT). Some current market examples are home security systems, thermostats, washer/ dryers, and cars.

When you get down to the brass tacks of it the IoT seems more like a giant tracking system, than an “Internet of Things”. Not all of it has to do with location tracking though. Say you want to go on vacation for a bit but have nobody to house-sit for you. With the IoT, that’s no longer a problem. You can keep tabs on your home as long as you have service on your phone. You can even set up your sprinkler system to check the local weather before turning on or not. So there are other things you can do with it than just track things, animals or people.

1. Home Security Systems

One of the ways that the IoT will help to make your house safer is the access to your home security system. Nowadays most security systems have an app you can download that lets you monitor your house from your smartphone. It will turn lights on/off, you’ll get notified when someone unlocks your door, and if you have cameras installed you can watch the live feed on your phone.

2. Self-IoT (Self-aware Internet of Things)

Another benefit of these smart products will be the ability to potentially self diagnose themselves. This means you’ll get some sort of a warning notice if the device starts to malfunction in some way. As of now the only “diagnostics” that you get from an appliance, is that it stops working. Imagine having a blender that warns you before the motor burns out. Now, imagine that same blender with the ability to contact tech support for repairs. By the time you realize that something was wrong with your blender, it’s already ordered you a new part.

3. Transform Targeting and Redefine Media

Advertising may actually be bearable. An advantage the IoT will bring with it is better targeted advertising. This new version of advertising will align with the consumers’ behaviors, interests, and recent purchases. Advertisers can reach consumers better and consumers can be more connected to their environment. Also, targeted advertising can make you aware of products you never even knew existed. Think of how much time you’ll save watching ads for stuff that you actually want to buy.

This has nothing to do with making your house healthier or safer. But this will do wonders for your sanity when you don’t have to watch that annoying commercial for that product you’re never going to buy… for the 14th time. This could even spell the end of commercials. Marketers won’t have to rely on banners, pop up, or other irrelevant forms of advertising to inform you about products.

4. Revolutionizing Healthcare (Remote Patient Monitoring)

The IoT would give the elderly a chance to live at home rather than at a nursing home. Hospital staff could monitor a patient’s daily activities without ever leaving the hospital. They could keep track of when they have to take their medicine, how much they’ve taken, and if they need a prescription refill. This doesn’t even have to be done by this hospital either; another family member could be in charge of monitoring. This would give the patient a lot more freedom and avoid being put in a nursing home, unless absolutely necessary.

5. Environmental Monitoring (Air Quality Monitoring)

Another way the IoT could keep the house safer is by monitoring the quality of air in your home. You’ll be alerted if there is a gas leak, or if there is carbon monoxide present. Carbon monoxide is nicknamed the silent killer, because it is odorless and causes the victim to fall asleep if too much of the gas is inhaled. The same ‘detection’ app could let you check the humidity in your crisper as well as the temperature of your coffee.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things is rapidly approaching its way to the mainstream. It’s been predicted that by the year 2020 an estimated 64 - 75 billion connections will be on the IoT. This presents opportunities and benefits that never before existed. Trying to predict what the IoT will become is similar to someone trying to predict what the actual Internet was going to become.

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Andreas Christodoulou (best known as "andreascy") is a Belgium based Entrepreneur & Author with a strong sense of purpose, vision, and personal control. He works with companies and like-minded achievers providing products and services that improve business. He is driven by their overall success.