What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects embedded with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies. These objects connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other communication networks. The IoT covers electronics, communication, and computer science engineering.
IoT devices do not all need to connect to the public Internet. Most only need to connect to a network and be individually addressable. The field has grown through the convergence of ubiquitous computing, sensors, embedded systems, and machine learning.
Key Characteristics of IoT Systems
An IoT system collects data from sensors, processes it locally or in the cloud, and sends results to other devices or people. This allows remote monitoring, status checks, control of devices, and evaluation of trends. Common IoT hardware includes sensors, embedded computers, gateways, and wireless communication modules.
| Component | Role in an IoT system |
|---|---|
| Sensors | Collect data from physical conditions |
| Embedded computer | Processes data at the device or edge |
| Network connection | Sends data to other devices or the cloud |
| Software | Manages devices and applies rules or analysis |
Applications of IoT
The largest single application of IoT is commercial asset tracking and fleet management, which accounts for 22% of the total market. Other major applications include industrial monitoring, smart metering in utilities, and connected healthcare. In consumer markets, IoT is most often seen in smart home products such as thermostats and smart speakers.
Thinvent Products for IoT Deployments
Thinvent has computers suited to IoT and industrial use. The Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 models use Intel Core i5, i7 and 12th generation processors, with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. Some IPC5 models include Dual LAN and Dual Band WiFi, and the IPC5 with i5-1240P runs Windows 11 IoT Value. The Thinvent Industrial PC IPC3 uses an Intel Core i3-1215U processor and runs Ubuntu Linux. The Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client uses an ARM Cortex A53 processor with 2GB RAM, 16GB eMMC storage, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth, and runs Thinux Embedded Linux. The Thinvent Aero Mini PC and Treo Mini PC models are available with Intel and AMD processors for edge and gateway tasks. The Thinvent 15" Industrial Panel PC uses an Intel Core i5-1335U processor.
