INTERNET

OF THINGS
Week 4
COMP 111
Starter Question
What’s one everyday problem you
would love a smart device to solve?
 Things to
Consider
💬 Problem: What are they solving?
⚙️IoT Device: What object is connected to the
internet?
📡 How it Works: What sensors/data does it
use? How does it interact?
🤖 Smart Response: What action does it take?
User Benefit: Why is this useful or exciting?
 Group Up &
Choose a Scenario (10
mins)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• Define the Internet of Things (IoT)
• Explain how IoT systems work (including
architecture and components)
• Identify real-world applications and domains
where IoT is applied
• Recognize the impact of IoT on industries and
society
📍What is Internet of Things,
IoT?
Definition:

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical

objects—“things”—embedded with sensors, software, and
other technologies to connect and exchange data with other
devices and systems over the Internet.
🧠 Examples of “Things” in
IoT:
• 🏠 Smart Thermostats – Automatically adjust
temperature based on your behavior
• 🏃 Wearable Fitness Trackers – Monitor heart rate, steps,
and sleep
• 🚗 Connected Cars – Share traffic data, auto-diagnose
problems
• 🏭 Industrial Machines with Sensors – Track efficiency
and predict failures
 🔑 Key Characteristics of
IoT:
🌐 Interconnectedness – Devices communicate with each
other
🕒 Real-Time Data Exchange – Instant sharing and receiving
of data
🤖 Automation – Tasks are done with minimal human
intervention
📱 Remote Monitoring & Control – Operate or track devices
from anywhere
 Basic IoT
Architecture
• Sensors/Devices: Collect environmental data like
temperature, motion, and humidity.
• Connectivity: Transmit data via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G,
etc.
• Data Processing: Cloud or edge computing analyzes
the data.
• User Interface: Access data through apps,
dashboards, or alerts.
 1.Sensors/Devices (Perception
Layer)
• These are the “eyes and ears” of the IoT system.
• They collect raw data from the environment such as:
⚬ Temperature
⚬ Motion/movement
⚬ Humidity 💧
⚬ Light levels 💡
⚬ Location (via GPS) 🧭

• Examples: Cameras, GPS trackers, thermometers, RFID

tags, accelerometers.
 2. Connectivity (Network
• Once the data Layer)
is collected, it needs to be sent to the
cloud or an edge processor for analysis.
• This is done through various communication
technologies:
⚬ Wi-Fi (short-range, fast speed)
⚬ Bluetooth (low power, short range)
⚬ 5G/4G/LTE (high-speed, cellular networks)
⚬ Zigbee or LoRaWAN (used in low-power smart
devices)
⚬ Ethernet (wired connections in industrial settings)
• The choice depends on power, distance, and data
requirements.
 3. Data Processing (Middleware
• Once transmitted,Layer)
data is either processed:
⚬ In the Cloud (centralized computing on powerful
servers)
⚬ Or at the Edge (near the source, e.g., smart routers
or gateways)
• Processing tasks include:
⚬ Filtering irrelevant data
⚬ Analyzing patterns (e.g., temperature spikes)
⚬ Triggering automated responses (e.g., alerts,
shutdowns)
• This layer often integrates AI and Machine Learning to
improve decisions.
 4. User Interface (Application
• Layer)
Processed data is made accessible and actionable
through:
⚬ Mobile apps 📱
⚬ Dashboards
⚬ Email or push notifications 🔔
• Users can monitor, make decisions, or manually
intervene.
• Example: See home security camera footage or receive
a notification when smoke is detected.
 Example Workflow: Smart Irrigation
System
1.Sensor Detection: Soil moisture sensor detects low
moisture.
2.Connectivity: Sensor sends data via Wi-Fi or
LoRaWAN to cloud.
3.Data Processing: Cloud platform processes the data
and determines soil is too dry.
4.Action Taken: Command sent back to irrigation
system to open water valve.
5.User Notification(Interface): User receives a
message that the plants are being watered 🌱.
⚙️Enabling Technologies in
IoT– Central storage and processing of IoT
• Cloud Computing
data, scalable and remotely accessible.
• Edge Computing – Local processing to reduce latency
and bandwidth, ideal for real-time applications.
• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning – Help identify
patterns and predict behavior (e.g., energy usage
trends).
• Communication Protocols:
⚬ MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport):
Lightweight and ideal for low-bandwidth devices.
⚬ HTTP: Traditional web communication.
⚬ CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol): Optimized
for constrained devices.
📍 Applications of the Internet of Things
(IoT)
 📍 Applications of the Internet of Things
(IoT)
IoT is applied in:
• Everyday life – From smart homes to wearable health trackers
• 🏭 Industry – Automating machines and monitoring supply chains
• 🏥 Healthcare – Supporting doctors and saving lives
• 🌆 Smart cities – Making urban areas more efficient and
sustainable
IoT applications improve:
• 📈 Efficiency
• 🧠 Decision-making
• 🌱 Sustainability
• Safety
 Consumer
These are IoT solutions aimed at individual users and households to
Applications
improve convenience, efficiency, and lifestyle:
• Smart Homes
⚬ Devices: Smart lighting, smart plugs, thermostats (e.g., Nest),
voice assistants (e.g., Alexa, Google Home)
⚬ Use: Automate home functions, save energy, enhance security.
• Wearables
⚬ Devices: Fitness trackers (Fitbit), smartwatches (Apple Watch,
Samsung Galaxy Watch)
⚬ Use: Monitor steps, heart rate, sleep, and integrate with health
apps.
• Connected Vehicles
⚬ Features: In-car navigation, diagnostics, driver-assist, vehicle-
to-vehicle (V2V) communication
⚬ Use: Improve road safety, monitor vehicle health, and enable
autonomous driving.
 Industrial Applications (Industrial IoT –
IIoT) operate by increasing
IoT is transforming how industries
automation, improving safety, and enabling real-time
data analytics:
• Predictive Maintenance
⚬ Use: Monitor machine health to predict failures
before they occur, reducing downtime and costs.
• Supply Chain & Logistics
⚬ Use: Track inventory and shipments in real time,
optimize routes, and reduce delays.
• Smart Agriculture
⚬ Use: Soil moisture sensors, drone surveillance,
livestock monitoring to increase productivity and
conserve resources.
 Healthcare
Applications
IoT is enabling more personalized, efficient, and proactive
medical care:
• Remote Patient Monitoring
⚬ Use: Track vital signs at home (e.g., heart rate,
glucose levels), reducing hospital visits.
• Smart Medical Devices
⚬ Examples: Insulin pens, connected inhalers, heart
monitors that send real-time data to healthcare
providers.
• Emergency Alert Systems
⚬ Use: Fall detection in elderly care, panic buttons
connected to emergency responders.
 Cities and Infrastructure (Smart
Cities)
Urban centers are becoming smarter with the integration of
IoT in public services and infrastructure:
• Smart Traffic Systems
⚬ Use: Adaptive traffic lights, congestion alerts, route
optimization.
• Waste Management
⚬ Use: Smart bins that alert when full, route
optimization for waste collection trucks.
• Smart Grids & Energy Meters
⚬ Use: Monitor energy use in real-time, detect outages,
optimize energy distribution.
Benefits and
Challenges of
IoT
✅ Benefits of
IoT
Increased Efficiency
⚬ Automates routine tasks (e.g., adjusting room
temperature, restocking shelves).
⚬ Improves operational workflows in industries like
logistics, agriculture, and healthcare.
Cost Reduction
⚬ Predictive maintenance prevents costly downtime.
⚬ Energy usage is optimized through smart systems.
Enhanced User Experience
⚬ Personalized services (e.g., smart assistants, wearable
health trackers).
⚬ Seamless integration between home, work, and travel
environments.
✅ Benefits of
IoT
Real-Time Insights & Decision Making
⚬ Immediate data from devices allows quick response
(e.g., alerts from security systems).
⚬ Businesses can adapt to market demands instantly.
✅ Challenges of
IoT
Lack of Standardization
• No universal communication or interoperability protocols.
• Devices from different manufacturers may not work
together efficiently.
Power & Connectivity Limitations
• Many IoT devices rely on battery power and frequent
recharging.
• In rural or underdeveloped regions, network connectivity
may be unreliable.
✅ Challenges of
IoT
Security & Privacy Concerns
• Devices often lack strong encryption, making them vulnerable
to hacking.
• Collection of sensitive user data raises concerns over
surveillance and misuse.
Data Overload & Management
• Massive volume of data requires strong infrastructure for
storage and processing.
• Organizations must ensure data quality and relevance.
Ethical
Considerations
IoT devices collect, process, and share massive amounts of real-
time personal and environmental data. While this enables
innovation, it also raises important ethical challenges that must be
addressed in design and deployment.

Transparency & Informed Consent

• Issue: Many IoT devices have complex terms of service that
users don’t understand.
• Example: Wearables selling health data to advertisers without
clear notice.
• Ethical Question: How can users be truly informed and
empowered to make decisions?
Ethical
Considerations
Surveillance & Autonomy
• Issue: IoT can enable mass surveillance by governments,
corporations, or even private individuals.
• Example: Smart city cameras tracking individuals without
consent.
• Ethical Question: Where’s the balance between safety and
individual freedom?
Bias & Fairness
• Issue: AI-powered IoT systems may have built-in biases that
lead to unfair treatment.
• Example: Facial recognition that misidentifies certain ethnic
groups more often.
• Ethical Question: How can IoT systems be tested for
fairness?
Ethical
Considerations
Environmental Impact
• Issue: Millions of IoT devices increase e-waste and energy
consumption.
• Example: Short device lifespans creating massive disposal
issues.
• Ethical Question: Should sustainability be a core design
requirement?
 📚 Discussion Prompt for Class

“Imagine your IoT solution from the group

activity is going to be deployed in a real
city. What ethical challenges could arise,
and how would you address them without
reducing functionality?”