The internet is undoubtedly one of, if not, the most important inventions in the history of civilization. It enables society to accomplish what seemed to be impossible feats. The internet gave us a convenient, world-wide reaching, two-way communication platform, nonstop or unlimited access to research, the ability to discover opportunities from hundreds of kilometers away, and create new forms of entertainment that would surpass television’s influence. In today’s world, under the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, online connectivity allows us to collaborate and work with our colleagues from our own homes.
Another impressive yet overlooked feat of the internet is the automated system that allows devices to communicate. The Internet of Things (IoT) connects all types of gizmos from high-tech smartphones to wearable gadgets. Its systems let devices collect then analyze information, and perform specific actions using the gathered information.
Unsurprisingly, Japan, one of the planet’s elite technological hubs, is an excellent destination for the development of state-of-the-art devices, such as those taking advantage of IoT systems. Consequently, this makes the country an appealing country for aspiring IoT developers and engineers.
In this article, we’ll discuss the history and overall impact of the Internet of Things, its significance during the COVID-19 crisis, and the specific functions of IoT developers and engineers.
Contents
Brief History and Rising Popularity of Internet of Things
The concept of the Internet of Things has been around since the 70s, but the term was first coined by Procter & Gamble’s Kevin Ashton. Ashton was doing a presentation for the supply chain optimization department on its new technology called RFID (Radio-frequency identification). Ashton labeled RFID as the “Internet of Things” to catch everyone’s attention, as the arrival of the internet was all the rage back in the 1990s. Since then, IoT has become a part of the dictionary for technological powerhouses like Google. The term has even been used and featured by media giants such as Forbes and Wired, exhibiting how popular IoT has become.
Unbeknownst to us, IoT is everywhere, and we conveniently access its automated systems every day. For example, home security systems use IoT to inform its users about suspicious activities around their houses, such as unauthorized entry and even identify and allow entry of its owners through eye-based identification. In cars, IoT is primarily used for parking sensors and adaptive cruise control, making driving more comfortable and safer. Even the healthcare industry uses IoT by assessing and monitoring patients’ conditions plus detecting their health problems.
But the Internet of Things’ impact goes beyond the safety and security of people; it also enables a better manufacturing process for factories. IoT lets management know how much energy the factory uses, which products they can recycle, how many items are currently in their inventory, and how productive their day has been. All of these can allow owners to cut costs effectively and identify which aspects of their factories need improvement.
On a much bigger scale, cities also make use of IoT by providing entire communities with high-speed internet. IoT also allows cities to become more sustainable for the future by developing its urban planning sector and focusing on matters such as public health and transportation.
IoT is also in ordinary things like thermostats (track monthly usage), alarm clocks (set alarms via smartphone or computer), and even vending machines (use real-time data to identify most demanded products and adjust pricing for better profit).
The COVID-19 crisis has indeed changed the whole world’s routine. The entire planet is now forced to adapt to the “new normal,” and the Internet of Things has been a critical contributor in how we try to safely continue our day-to-day operations under the rules of the coronavirus situation.
IoT has been pivotal in ensuring public safety, as it has been utilized to track suspected to be infected and infected individuals. In other territories, citizens are given wristbands with corresponding QR codes so that the government can monitor their movement.
Due to the overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients worldwide, hospitals have now turned to IoT in answering people’s queries related to the coronavirus. This way, people don’t have to go to medical centers to ask. They can simply hop on the internet, look up their local hospital’s website, and automated chatbots are there to answer their coronavirus-related questions.
The Internet of Things has also enabled people to catch up with everyone without even leaving their homes. They can now use voice command to start video conferences with distant family members, friends, colleagues, and even family physicians or doctors.
The Roles and Responsibilities of an IoT Developer and Engineer
Because of the world’s current situation, IoT developers and engineers are needed now more than ever. Their future breakthroughs could very well be the ones to lessen the curb and ensure the future’s safety. In Japan, these IoT experts have long been sought-after, as the country has always had an ambitious technological industry. But what exactly do they do?
For starters, they always conduct experiments, usually with robotics. Since the whole concept of the Internet of Things is to let two devices communicate with each other, IoT developers and engineers do their best to create and develop machines that could easily handle instructions and tasks without further assistance from humans.
IoT engineers and developers in Japan also need to keep themselves informed and get acquainted with the latest software. Companies are always in a competition to produce not only the best, but also the most state-of-the-art technologies, so they create products with materials that aren’t familiar to the general public. Moreover, they also need to be knowledgeable about older software, as some existing technologies can be built on and further developed.
Additionally, the country’s IoT engineers and developers need to be great at Data Analytics. They are expected to have an extensive background in aspects such as batch parallel processing, processing complex events, implementing machine learning, and visualization of data.
IoT engineers and developers in Japan are knowledgeable in mobile and web user applications as more and more users use IoT through their smartphones, tablets, and computers. They are adept in iOS and Android, as these are the top two operating systems in the smartphone industry. They also have an in-depth understanding of Java, .NET, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP for web user applications.
Conclusion
The increasing popularity of the Internet of Things hasn’t been a surprise, as this technology allows devices to make life more convenient. Now, under the COVID-19 crisis, devices with IoT systems have proved to be important tools in combating the crisis. The expertise of IoT engineers and developers could lead to more innovations in safety measures, and hopefully, enable us to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic soon.
Are you interested in becoming an IoT engineer or developer? Your dream job could be waiting for you in Japan. Discover openings and useful tips on our website below. Good luck with your future endeavors and stay safe!
Sources:
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/internet-of-things-what-is-explained-iot
https://www.businessinsider.com/internet-of-things-devices-examples
https://www.iotforall.com/the-growing-role-of-iot-in-covid-19-response/
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/263/4/042026/pdf
https://builtin.com/internet-things/iot-in-vehicles
https://builtin.com/internet-things/iot-examples
https://www.persistent.com/industries/industrial/offerings/smart-electronic-appliances-ecosystem/
https://iotdunia.com/smart-thermostat/
https://www.instructables.com/id/IoT-Smart-Alarm-Clock-Open-Source-Project/
https://www.telit.com/industries-solutions/retail/vending-and-kiosk/
