The fundamental components of an IoT application are the Internet and the Thing, which work together to enable the functionality of IoT devices.
The 'Thing' in IoT refers to devices interacting with the physical world, often small, low-power computers with limited processing power.
IoT devices are characterized by low power consumption, small computing capability, and sensors and actuators for data collection and environment changes.
Examples of IoT devices include smart thermostats, smartphones, smart lights, wearable devices, and motion-activated systems.
The Internet component enables communication between devices, applications, and cloud-based services in IoT applications.
Cloud services in IoT provide security, data processing and storage, and connectivity to applications for IoT devices.
IoT devices connect to the Internet using methods like WiFi, wired connections, and mesh networking such as Bluetooth and Zigbee.
Edge computing in IoT allows local processing, providing faster processing, offline functionality, and enhanced privacy and security.
Security is a major concern in IoT applications due to vulnerabilities like weak authentication, unsecured connections, and malware attacks.
Improving IoT security involves measures like strong authentication, data encryption, network isolation, and 'air-gapping' to protect data privacy.