Internet of Things (IoT)

Internet of Things (IoT) is a huge buzzword constantly being thrown about, but what exactly is the Internet of Things? In simplistic terms, it means connecting things (whether that is a lightbulb, watch, car motor, or speaker) to the internet. These things typically require some sensor or network of sensors to collect and/or send information to the internet. Yes, the “IoT” is incredibly broad, but it has many applications!

For example, my senior capstone group project is working to create an IoT sensor network that can be installed in your shoes. We are planning to use pressure sensors embedded within shoe insoles and accelerometers and gyroscopes attached to the shoe laces to measure load, gait cadence, and gait asymmetry over long distance treks. The sensors will communicate with a web application to provide actionable insights about each metric that a medical professional will be able to evaluate if the numbers represent a healthy individual or not. The project is centered around the idea of monitoring soldiers’ health during their long-distance ruck marches and training missions in which they are required to carry loads of 30–75+ lbs over long distances. In the military, musculoskeletal injuries are the #1 reason for military discharge; we are hoping that with this device and web application pairing, we can help create a form of documentation to track injuries and provide insights for someone to notice the early onsets of musculoskeletal injuries prior to a critical state.

More commercial examples of IoT devices include Nest thermostats and security cameras, smart light bulbs, Amazon Echo and Google Home, and wearables like Fitbit and Apple Watches. But as we become increasingly connected to the internet, what crosses the line of becoming too connected? Are products such as smart floss containers and smart blenders really adding value to our lives, or are we just connecting and automating things for sake of making things high-tech?