Introduction to Internet of Things (IoT)

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental IoT concepts, technologies, protocols, applications, and challenges drawn from the lecture notes.

Internet of Things (IoT)

A network of physical objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors and actuators that connect and exchange data over the Internet without human intervention.

Thing (in IoT)

Any object with an IP address and the ability to collect, process and transfer data over a network, e.g., appliances, vehicles, gadgets.

Sensor

A device that measures physical input—such as motion, temperature or pressure—and converts it into data interpretable by computers.

Actuator

A component that receives a control signal and performs a physical action, such as turning a valve or moving a motor, in IoT systems.

Microcontroller

A compact, low-cost computer on a chip used in embedded systems to gather sensor data and connect to the Internet.

Connectivity (IoT)

The communication layer that moves data between devices and the cloud using protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, cellular, etc.

Data Processing (IoT)

The stage where raw device data is transformed—aggregated, extracted, classified or analyzed—into meaningful information.

User Interface (UI)

The application layer that presents processed data to users via dashboards, alerts, notifications or remote-control commands.

Automation

Using IoT devices and software to perform tasks with minimal human effort, thus saving time and resources.

Big Data (IoT)

Large volumes of diverse, real-time data generated by connected devices, enabling better decision-making and analytics.

API (Application Programming Interface)

A defined set of rules allowing software components or IoT devices to communicate and share data.

LoRaWAN

A low-power, wide-area networking protocol (<5 km urban, <15 km rural) designed for long-range IoT communication.

NB-IoT

Narrowband IoT; a cellular technology for low-power, wide-area connectivity of devices over licensed spectrum (<100 km).

Sigfox

An ultra-narrowband, low-power wide-area network protocol for simple, low-throughput IoT messages.

Zigbee

A short-range (<300 ft), low-power, mesh networking standard commonly used for smart-home IoT devices.

Z-Wave

A low-power RF communication protocol (<100 ft) designed for home automation and control applications.

Wi-Fi

A high data-rate wireless LAN technology (2.4/5 GHz) frequently used to connect IoT gadgets within buildings.

Bluetooth

A short-range, low-power protocol suitable for personal IoT devices like wearables and peripherals.

5G Cellular

The latest generation of mobile networks offering high bandwidth and low latency for data-intensive IoT applications.

Cloud Infrastructure

Remote servers and storage that collect, store and analyze IoT data, enabling scalability and global access.

Smart City

An urban environment that leverages IoT for services such as smart lighting, traffic control, waste management and pollution monitoring.

Wearable

Body-worn IoT device (e.g., smart watch, fitness tracker) that collects health or activity data and connects to the Internet.

Autonomous Vehicle

A self-driving car that uses IoT sensors, connectivity and data processing to navigate without human input.

Smart Grid

An electricity network enhanced by IoT sensors and analytics for efficient energy distribution and fault detection.

Participatory Sensing

Crowd-sourced data collection where individuals use personal IoT devices to monitor and share environmental or social information.

Data Aggregation

Combining data from multiple devices (e.g., several thermostats) into a unified dataset.

Data Extraction

Isolating relevant information—such as license plate numbers—from raw IoT data streams like video feeds.

Data Classification

Organizing IoT data into predefined categories, aiding pattern recognition and analytics.

Data Analytics

Applying statistical or AI techniques to IoT data to discover patterns, trends and actionable insights.

Privacy (IoT)

Safeguarding personal or confidential information generated by IoT devices from unauthorized access or disclosure.

Security (IoT)

Measures that protect IoT systems from threats such as hacking, data breaches and network attacks.

Network Attack

Malicious activity targeting IoT connectivity—e.g., DDoS or eavesdropping—posing risks to data integrity and availability.

IoT Sprinkler System

An application where a soil-moisture sensor sends data to a control center, which remotely turns a sprinkler on/off.

Libelium Smart World

A catalog of IoT use-cases—including smart parking, pollution monitoring, smart roads—developed by Libelium.

Connected Device Density

Metric showing the rise of IoT: from 0.08 devices per person in 2003 to an estimated 6.58 devices per person in 2020.