Maarg Manthan · Topic 14.9

Internet of Things (IoT)

Science & Technology › IT, Telecommunications and Computers · Topic 14.9

The Internet of Things, IoT, is a network of everyday physical objects that carry sensors, software and network connections so that they can collect and exchange data without human input. The term was used by Kevin Ashton in 1999. An IoT system has four parts: sensors or devices that sense the environment, connectivity such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile networks or low power wide area networks, data processing in the cloud or at the edge, and a user interface or action. Examples are smart meters, connected cars, wearable health bands, smart home appliances, soil sensors in precision farming and industrial machines that report faults. It brings efficiency and automation but also raises concerns of security and privacy.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · IT, Telecommunications and Computers

At a Glance

Term coined Kevin Ashton, 1999
Parts Sensors, network, processing, action
Network types Wi-Fi, LPWAN, 5G
Use Smart cities, farms, health
Risk Security and privacy
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: IT, Telecommunications and Computers

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of the internet. It extends the network from people to objects, and it is a main reason for the push for 5G and cloud computing. Previous topic: Internet, WWW, IP, URL, HTTP. Next topic: Computer Security Tools: Firewalls, Hackers, VPN.

How Does an IoT System Work?

Layer	Role
Sensors and devices	Measure temperature, motion, light, location, pressure, sound or images. Actuators carry out actions such as switching a valve
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, near field communication, mobile networks and low power wide area networks such as LoRa and NB-IoT
Gateway	A device that collects data from many sensors and sends it on to the cloud
Cloud and edge computing	Data is stored and analysed in the cloud, or processed near the device at the edge when quick response is needed
Analytics and AI	Find patterns, predict failures and give recommendations
Application	A dashboard or app for users, or an automatic action
Protocols	Lightweight messaging protocols such as MQTT and CoAP for small devices

Where Is IoT Used?

Smart cities: traffic lights, street lights, waste bins, water and air quality sensors. India’s Smart Cities Mission was launched in 2015 with Integrated Command and Control Centres
Agriculture: soil moisture sensors, drones and weather stations for precision irrigation
Health: wearable monitors, connected glucose meters and remote patient monitoring
Energy: smart meters under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme and smart grids
Industry: industrial IoT for predictive maintenance and supply chain tracking
Transport: fleet tracking, FASTag toll collection and connected vehicles
Home: smart speakers, lights, locks and appliances
Disaster warning: river level sensors and landslide sensors give early warnings

What Else Should You Remember?

Numbers: estimates suggest tens of billions of connected devices worldwide, and rapid growth in India
LPWAN: low power wide area networks send small data packets over long distances for years on a battery
5G and IoT: massive machine type communication is a main 5G use, as in Evolution of Telecommunication and Mobile Generations (3G, 4G, VoLTE, 5G)
National IoT Policy: a draft policy of 2015 aimed at a large IoT industry in India, with centres of excellence. The status of the final policy should be checked
Security: weak passwords and unpatched devices make IoT a target. The Mirai botnet of 2016 used hacked cameras and routers to launch large attacks
Privacy: devices collect personal data such as location and health, which needs consent and protection
Standards: lack of common standards makes devices from different makers hard to connect
Power and cost: batteries and the cost of sensors limit large deployments
Data volumes: IoT creates big data that needs cloud storage and analysis, as in Cloud Computing and Big Data
Digital twin: a virtual copy of a machine or city fed by IoT data
Government role: TEC has set up standards and test labs for IoT devices
Caution: device counts and market sizes change quickly, so avoid quoting exact figures without a source
Industrial IoT: factories use sensors to predict when machines will fail, so repairs happen before breakdowns and downtime falls
Wearables: fitness bands and smart watches send heart rate and activity data to phone apps and doctors
Smart meters: electricity meters that send readings automatically and allow time-of-day tariffs, rolled out under national distribution reform schemes
Wireless sensor networks: many small sensors that pass data to each other, used in forests, mines and farms where cabling is not possible
Ownership of data: who owns data from a connected device, the user or the maker, is an open legal question

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Definition and parts: sensors, connectivity, processing
Terms: edge computing and LPWAN
Indian uses: smart cities, smart meters, FASTag
Current affairs link: 5G and device security rules
Common errors: saying that IoT needs human input or only uses Wi-Fi

As an analytical point, IoT can improve efficiency in agriculture, cities and energy, but each connected object is also a possible entry point for attackers. Security by design and clear rules on data use are essential.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Parts Four layers
Uses Many sectors
Risks Security

What Came Next?

The next topic covers computer security tools such as firewalls, hackers and virtual private networks. Next topic: Computer Security Tools: Firewalls, Hackers, VPN.

Key People and Terms

IoT Internet of Things
Sensor Device that measures
Actuator Device that acts
Edge computing Processing near the source
LPWAN Low power wide area network
Gateway Collector of device data

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Term by Kevin Ashton: 1999.
Smart Cities Mission: 2015.
Mirai botnet: 2016.
Messaging protocol: MQTT.
Edge = processing near the device.

Do Not Confuse With

IoT and the internet Network of objects versus network of people and computers
Cloud and edge computing Central versus local processing
Sensor and actuator Measures versus acts

Memory Hook

Sense, send, think, act; edge when fast, cloud when big; secure each thing or the Mirai will bite.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about definition, uses and risks. These points help.

Uses Smart systems
Risks Security, privacy
Policy Standards

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the applications of the Internet of Things in India and the security and privacy issues that it raises.”

How to Answer

Meaning Parts.
Uses Cities, farms, health.
Risks Mirai, privacy.
Way Standards, rules.

GS Relevance

Prelims: meaning, components, protocols, applications, Indian initiatives. GS Paper 3: science and technology, IT, smart cities, agriculture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things is a network of physical objects, such as appliances, vehicles, machines and wearables, that have sensors, software and network connections so that they can collect and exchange data automatically. The data is analysed to monitor conditions, give alerts or control the object without the need for human input.

What are the main components of an IoT system?

An IoT system has sensors that measure the surroundings, connectivity such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or mobile networks to send the data, a cloud or edge platform that stores and analyses it, and an application or actuator that shows results to the user or takes an action. Gateways often collect data from many devices.

What is edge computing?

Edge computing is the processing of data close to the place where it is produced, such as on the device or a nearby gateway, rather than sending everything to a distant cloud. It reduces delay and network load and is used when quick decisions are needed, as in self-driving vehicles and industrial control.

How is IoT used in agriculture?

In agriculture, IoT uses soil moisture and weather sensors, drones and automatic valves to give farmers real-time information and to irrigate and apply fertiliser only where needed. This precision farming saves water, cuts costs and raises yields, and is supported by schemes and start-ups in India.

What are the risks of IoT?

The main risks are security and privacy. Many devices have weak passwords and are not updated, so attackers can take them over, as with the Mirai botnet in 2016. IoT devices also collect personal data such as location and health information, which needs consent, protection and clear rules on use.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The term Internet of Things was used by Kevin Ashton in 1999.

True

At the start of the idea.

2 Edge computing means processing data only in a distant cloud.

False

It processes near the device.

3 MQTT is a lightweight messaging protocol used in IoT.