Audio Lecture Text

The previous section discussed how IoT is applied in a practical sense.

Let's now take a look at a brief overview of the entire IoT process:

1. IoT devices are equipped with sensors that detect and capture data

2. The data gets processed locally and then transformed or classified for future use by a computer

3. It is then stored temporarily in the local device while a network connection such as WiFi is used to communicate with another device source

4. The device source is normally an Internet related computer that receives the data

5. Cloud processing is used to further interpret and classify the information

6. Finally, the information is stored on the Cloud for aggregate use or displayed in a visual Dashboard

The general process of an IoT device commences with the use of the devices sensors and the intended purpose of the device. For example, a device that is used to track temperature changes in a room has a designated purpose of monitoring increases or decreases in temperature at any given time throughout a 24-hour cycle. This device would have sensors that serve this specific function. Devices can also include a multitude of sensors to provide several different functions simultaneously.

Therefore, an IoT device will gather information or data, in an automatic and efficient manner. The data is then collected for local processing or interpretation to signify something.

It is then stored temporarily in the local device while a network connection such as WiFi is used to communicate with another device source. The local processing outcome, if applicable to the devices functionality, results in two possible alternatives:

One, the transmission of the data to another device, which is normally an Internet related computer that receives the data for Cloud processing for future use and further analysis.

Cloud processing means that data is transmitted to an online system or service such as any Google resource where the data can be utilized for further analytics, or

Two, to allow an action to be taken either by human or computer function.

Finally, the information that is stored on the Cloud gathers historical data, which is collected over time or aggregate data, which is a summary of the data. This data is used to identify trends, peak and low values, and obtain statistical values that are displayed in an interactive visual Dashboard. Dashboards can contain pie charts, graphs, and an assortment of information, summarizing the data, which is used for the decision-making process.