Mobile Apps play a Critical Role in building IoT Applications
The IoT has taken the world by storm. Gradually but steadily, it’s a concept nowadays that defines how we live and how we work. The Internet of Things moreover is changing how we perceive and see things. Over the years, its growth could attribute to one thing, and that is it’s here to stay.
The Internet of Things is connecting all devices to the internet. In the past, there are futuristic films wherein one device could control an entire home. Well, that’s the IoT put simply. This includes everything, from smartphones to lights, appliances, and even garage doors.
Mobile Apps, Leveraging the IoT Space
Mobile phones are one of the great tools that could take full advantage of the Internet of Things solutions. With the escalating demand, mobile app development along with has become a huge business venture worldwide. There are more than two billion smartphone users in the world, and the number of smartphone users would continue to grow in the years to come.
Since mobile app development is affordable, it only makes sense to get into the IoT solutions via these applications. Mobile apps, in contrast to web applications, provide a more flexible platform for data transfer. IoT development in mobile apps makes remote control of other smart devices seamless.
When it comes to boosting IoT growth, mobile app development and apps play a critical role, since it enables connecting devices, which integrate sensors. The relationship builds over the internet and the network, which produces detailed information and data. Human-to-human or human-to-internet interaction is no longer a necessity.
In today’s busy and hectic world, smartphones have simplified people’s lives. And the great thing is that the Internet of Things further has smoothened our lives in the most favorable way, which is undeniable, a blessing.
Ecosystem of Things
There are four basic components comprising the very functionality of the IoT.
- Hardware: Most devices and machines nowadays could detect and emit frequency signals and attempt to make a connection. They are able to do this with the help of motion, temperature, and pressure sensors embedded in them. One great example is the NFC capabilities, which converts physical parameters into signals that could be electrically measured.
- Cloud: The cloud infrastructure virtually is limitless and could store databases of billions and more. The transmitted signals are processed with the infinite database, which could be used in doing intelligent actions, which deem these things to be ‘smart’.
- Mobile software/apps: Pertaining to the consumer of the end-user. Software is what enables communicating with machines since they primarily communicate on binary codes. Monitoring and controlling devices are enabled by intuitive apps.
- Gateway: As the name implies, it acts as a kind of path, bridging the hardware and the interconnected internet or web-based gap on signals. Data is collected from the signals emitted by the devices, transmitting to the internet infrastructure.
- Great Power: The IoT is an extremely powerful tool, which, in a paced environment could make life a breeze. Moreover, it could create a very smart environment but could have some ramifications as well. Bear in mind that the IoT still is relatively new and only just gaining traction when it comes to adopters. Some things to keep in mind though are these:
PROS of IoT
- The IoT saves time and money
- Automates daily tasks
- Boost the quality of life
- Could do away with physical labor, minimizing human labor
CONS of IoT
- Could turn complex over time
- Limited information security
- Increase tech dependency
Mobile Apps Influence and Play a Critical Role in IoT Apps
SMART HOMES
Many in-home features could be controlled using IoT devices, such as an AC for locking and security. The homeowner’s life has become simple, cozy, and streamlined with these mobile applications. With IoT devices, home automation is in full swing.
From cameras, homeowners could remotely see the actual condition of their homes. The devices, from the mobile app, receive the instruction and conversation that guide them to ‘learn’.
MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE
By this year, the healthcare IoT is poised to reach $117 billion. Healthcare IoT apps include Remote Clinical Monitoring and Preventive Care and Management of Chronic Disease. To minimize the people visiting doctors for minor things, home used medical devices could be managed.
The devices could be connected with sensors and transmit all data on the device into an application and then into a smartphone. Mobile apps, through pumps and IVs, could set the dosage of medicine.
RETAIL
The retail industry’s target is to make a better customer experience. Retailers could build a better experience by using IoT devices, which facilitate data collection. Retailers use smart transportation to get goods.
IoT devices use GPS to track and route trucks. Using mobile apps for data access and directing the route provide work process efficiency.
AGRICULTURE
The world population is expected to hit nine billion by the year 2050. Coping with the ever-growing demands in food becomes inevitable. IoT-based sensible farming is used for watching field crops using sensors.
Farmers could supervise farmlands conditions remotely, through employing mobile devices. Humidity, light, temperature, the wetness of the soil, and a whole lot more could be witnessed. IoT developments, in the agricultural field, could be exercised in monitoring livestock, farm drones, precision farming, and smart greenhouses.
WEARABLES
The critical part of IoT solutions is wearables. They could be connected, such as wristwatches, eyeglasses, and bands to smartphones by using connections such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Any form of data could be exchanged between a couple of devices.
In the years to come, the Internet of Things would be driving the mobile application development future. By this year, over 26 billion associated gadgets would be available. The IoT is a vast and great system of associated devices, which help share various kinds of data and information.
There would be no stopping the IoT. The overall convenience that it brings to the table could be more than enough to outweigh its cons. As of today, it gives an idea of us being in control of the things we do.
