Question

How have embedded computers and the IoT impacted your daily life? What additional uses can you see yourself using? What security or other risks might you encounter with IoT?

Answer 1

Answer: Embedded computers are the programmable controllers that are designed to perform a specific task within a device. They take input (from sensors etc.), process it in predefined steps and give the result.

The IoT refers to the Internet of Things. It is interlinked or interconnected things that can communicate with one another directly over the internet. The word Things in the IoT ranging from devices like digital and security cameras, wearable watches, washing machines, GPS navigation systems, refrigerators to buildings and even cities.

Impact of Embedded Computers and the IoT(Internet of Things)

Nowadays, we have almost embedded computers because it is not compulsory that an embedded computer should be connected to the internet. Let’s take a common example- we are using a smart washing machine that as input takes clothes and takes steps which already defined first it will wash then rinse and dry, and give output- washed clothes. What is this? This is an embedded system. But they can also be controlled remotely or can also send a notification to a mobile phone by the virtue of the IoT. It saves our energy (work done by washing machine), our money (by efficiently using the washing powder), resources (by rinsing and washing the clothes with the amount of water required- water conservation) and our time (by being controlled remotely).

You are at home only and you want to book a cab to go out, within seconds you can this in the palm of your hands. Many apps are there which is providing service. You track your ride by the GPS navigation system (consist of a GPS module and the embedded computers, connected with the internet).

And now we are using smart locking systems and smart security cameras inside and outside are able to notify the authorities or to the owners in the case of intrusion, and, thus, making lives and possessions safe and secure. Now we are using smartwatches that can continuously monitor the blood pressure and heart rate in real-time through the IoT based devices with embedded computers connected with the sensors.

Embedded computers and IoT have impacted our daily lives in a meaningful and constructing way.

Additional uses- I am seeing myself using the IoT based learning devices like Google Nest thermostat. It uses machine learning to automatically set the optimal temperature of the home. If you want to change the temperature, there is no need to go physically there where it is installed. It automatically turns off when there is no person in the home, which is a big advantage for saving some extra bucks.

Security or other risks- As we know IoT based systems, everything is connected to the internet, So, all the cybersecurity risks and issues are applied to it as well. The more devices you are using, you have more complexity to handle these. Any information may be hacked, a dirty person can use this in the wrong way. Privacy is a major concern (could be compromised with the usage of IoT).