IoT - From Industries to Houses: An Overview

Abstract

The Internet of Things was idealized more than 20 years ago but was not effectively implemented until 2011, when it in fact gained space in the academic and industrial environments. Although it was closely related to industrial automation solutions, its concept was quickly associated with the necessities of smart cities, such as robust communication technologies and devices capable of collecting all kinds of data. Finally, from the cities to the houses, there was just one step, and, currently, the IoT is so naturally inserted into the day-to-day life of millions of people, that they do not even realize it. This work aims to present an overview of how the Internet of Things has migrated from industries to houses as well as the main applications and business models. We also show how this technology allows the interaction between the virtual and real-world and the security concerns that must be kept in mind. The Internet of Things created an unprecedented level of interaction between people, buildings, and cities through virtual environments, and, although the benefits it might have, people must also be aware of the new threats and how to avoid them.