Internet of Things – Concepts and Applications (Lecture Ch. 2)

30 vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, components, drivers, trends, challenges, and domain-specific uses of the Internet of Things as discussed in the lecture.

Internet of Things (IoT)

A network of interconnected physical objects (“things”) embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity that allows them to collect, exchange, and act on data with minimal human intervention.

Thing (in IoT)

Any natural or man-made object that can be given a unique identifier (e.g., IP address) and transmit data over a network—such as a heart-monitor implant, a farm animal with a biochip, or a sensor-equipped car.

IoT Ecosystem

The complete environment of smart devices, connectivity, data platforms, applications, and users that work together to gather, transmit, process, and act on data.

Sensor

An IoT device component that detects physical conditions (e.g., temperature, motion) and converts them into digital data for processing.

Actuator

A device that performs a physical action (e.g., turning on lights) in response to a control signal received from an IoT system.

Connectivity (Network)

The communication layer (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, 4G/5G, LPWAN, etc.) that moves data between IoT devices, gateways, and the cloud.

Gateway

A physical node that aggregates and preprocesses data from many IoT devices, translating protocols and forwarding information to and from the cloud.

Edge Computing

Processing data close to where it is generated (on devices or gateways) to enable faster decisions, lower latency, and offline capability.

Cloud (in IoT)

Remote servers that provide large-scale storage, advanced analytics, machine-learning tools, and management for IoT data and applications.

IoT Security

Measures such as encryption, authentication, secure firmware updates, and threat monitoring that protect IoT devices and data from cyber-attacks.

Botnet

A network of compromised IoT devices (“zombie army”) controlled by attackers, often used to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

Kevin Ashton

MIT Auto-ID co-founder who coined the term “Internet of Things” in 1999, envisioning uniquely identifiable objects communicating with each other.

Technology Drivers (IoT)

Key enablers including low-cost sensors, ubiquitous connectivity, cloud platforms, machine learning, and conversational AI that accelerate IoT adoption.

AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things)

The convergence of AI and IoT, allowing connected devices to learn patterns, detect anomalies, and optimize performance autonomously.

5G-Enabled IoT

IoT applications that leverage 5G networks for ultra-fast, low-latency, high-device-density connections (e.g., smart cities, autonomous vehicles).

Industrial IoT (IIoT)

Use of IoT technologies in industrial settings—such as smart factories, predictive maintenance, and digital twins—to boost automation and efficiency.

Precision Farming

Agricultural practice that uses IoT sensors for soil moisture, climate, and crop health data to optimize irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.

Smart Grid

An energy network enhanced by IoT sensors and smart meters to monitor consumption, manage demand, integrate renewables, and improve reliability.

Smart Meter

An IoT-enabled device that provides real-time data on electricity, gas, or water usage, enabling demand-side management and dynamic billing.

Predictive Maintenance

Using IoT condition-monitoring data to forecast equipment failures, allowing maintenance before breakdowns to reduce downtime and costs.

Wearable Device

A body-worn IoT gadget (e.g., fitness tracker, smart watch) that collects personal health or activity data and transmits it to applications or the cloud.

Smart Home

A residential environment where IoT devices control lighting, HVAC, security, and appliances to improve convenience, safety, and energy efficiency.

Smart City

Urban area that applies IoT (traffic sensors, smart parking, waste management, etc.) to enhance mobility, resource use, public safety, and quality of life.

Interoperability (IoT)

The ability of different IoT devices and platforms to work seamlessly together, encouraged by standards like MQTT, LoRaWAN, and Matter.

Blockchain in IoT

Use of distributed ledger technology to provide transparent, tamper-proof data sharing and secure device-to-device transactions.

Edge Device

A resource-constrained computing unit (e.g., smart camera, industrial controller) that performs local data processing before forwarding results upstream.

LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network)

Long-range, low-power connectivity technologies (e.g., LoRa, NB-IoT) suited for battery-operated IoT sensors that transmit small data bursts.

Conversational AI

Natural-language interfaces (Alexa, Siri, Cortana) embedded in IoT devices, enabling voice interaction and control.

Data Overload

A challenge where the vast amount of IoT-generated data becomes difficult to store, analyze, or derive actionable insights from.

Domain-Specific IoT

Tailored IoT solutions built for particular sectors such as healthcare (IoMT), logistics, energy, retail, or lifestyle applications.