The Internet of Things (IoT)
As the number of devices
potentially connected to the Internet grows rapidly, the amount of traffic
generated by these devices explodes, the Internet of Things is set to develop
rapidly and grow rapidly, bringing things into dialogue with people. It aims to
be one of the most powerful tools for creating, modifying and sharing countless
pieces of information. this new Internet is called "Web 3.0".
The Internet of Things
(IoT) as defined by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union
Recommendation ITU-T Y.2060 is a global infrastructure for the information
society, enabling advanced services by interconnecting objects (physical or
virtual) with existing or evolving interoperable information and communication
technologies. Thus, the IoT is likened to a network of interconnected services
and intelligent objects of all kinds intended to support humans in the
activities of daily life thanks to their detection, calculation and
communication capabilities.
By leveraging the modified
capabilities of identification, data entry, processing and communication, the IoT
takes full advantage of objects to offer services to all kinds of applications,
while ensuring compliance with security and privacy requirements.
From a broader perspective,
IoT can be seen as a concept with implications for technology and society.
Definition of the Internet of Things
To understand the Internet
of Things we will first review some definitions.
The first definition is the
Internet. It is defined as the set of interconnected global networks that allow
computers and servers to communicate efficiently using a common communication
protocol (IP: Internet Protocol). Its main services are the Web, FTP (File
Transfer Protocol), email, and newsgroups.
The second definition
concerns the Web, commonly used to refer to the World Wide Web, or www. it
materializes the hypertext system running on the Internet. It is considered a
tool that allows, through a browser, the consultation of pages of websites.
Generally, the technical distinction between the Web and the Internet is no
longer made.
Since the 1990s, the
nature, structure and use of the Web have evolved in a phenomenal way: from the
web of information to the web of things, connected billions of human beings but
also billions of objects. And this evolution has had profound impacts on
commercial social practices and uses. Thus, if we have passed, in the space of
thirty years, from the traditional Web (Web 1.0), to the social Web (Web 2.0),
then to the Semantic Web (Web 3.0), this evolution is far from stopping anytime
soon. Progress is well underway to develop in the coming years the intelligent
web (web 4.0), the ambient web (web 5.0), the emotional web (web 6.0) and
metaverses.
Evolution of web usage
Web 1.0 or traditional Web
(first phase of the web, 1990-2000): Is a static web, centered on the
distribution and distribution of content through a file system. It consists of
limited interaction between end users and websites. Users were mostly consumers
not concerned with content creation.
The Web 2.0 social or
participatory web (second phase of the web, 2000-2010): Is a dynamic Web whose
major asset is the multiplication of exchanges through the Internet through
exchange platforms and social networks. With Web 2.0, the Internet user has
become a dynamic player in the sharing and exchange of information and content.
This is the era of contributions on the Internet, the valorization of content
created by Internet users and virtual socialization.
Web 3.0 semantic web (third
generation of the web, 2010-2020): is a web that gives meaning to data. It
bridges the real and virtual worlds, promotes user interactivity and
collaboration, and meets the needs of mobile users. It is the web of algorithms
that aims to provide each Internet user with personalized content and to make
the Internet more open and decentralized. This feature is made possible thanks
to artificial intelligence, machine learning and the use of the blockchain
security system (A blockchain is a record, a large database that has the
particularity of being shared simultaneously with all users, all equally
holders of this register, and who also all have the ability to enter data, according
to specific rules set by a computer protocol very well secured thanks to
cryptography) to keep the personal information of Internet users safe.
Web 4.0 intelligent web
(fourth generation of the web 2020-2030): Marks the logical evolution of the
semantic web with intense personalization. It is based on wireless communication
connecting people and objects in real time in the physical or virtual world.
However, there is still a concrete testing ground for new technologies in the
field of smart connections. In marketing, Web 4.0 aims to analyze user behavior
to allow true personalization. However, it asks several questions about
privacy, data control, loss of freedom, etc.
Web 5.0 or Ambient Web: Is
a future project that would aim to empower users to regain control and
ownership of their data. It would mainly be a combination between web 2.0 and
web 3.0 that would create a decentralized web platform with semantic
capabilities.
Web 6.0 or emotional web:
Would focus primarily on creating an emotional connection between humans and
computers. It would also introduce emotional intelligence on the web that would
allow computers to communicate a person, or even think, reason and respond in
an (almost) human way. It aims to develop applications capable of interpreting
information at more complex levels, both emotionally and logically. the website
can use facial recognition as a tool to map the person's emotions. Users can
interact with the website and the website would react accordingly based on the
person's emotions.
The Metaverses: Represent
the future of the Internet where the boundary between the real and the virtual
will become increasingly blurred. People will form interconnected virtual
communities where they can work, meet and play, using virtual reality headsets,
augmented reality glasses, smartphone apps, etc.
How the Internet of Things Works
Sensors connected objects
in or on physical infrastructures form the backbone of the Internet of Things.
These sensors will capture data that they will transmit and route using a
wireless network on IoT platforms. These data management and data visualization
platforms are the new IoT solutions for analyzing data and drawing conclusions
to adapt practice and behavior.
The Internet of Things can
be explained using the concept of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) broken
down into four different layers.
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1- The detection layer:
formed by physical materials such as smart sensors;
2- The network: allows you
to connect the equipment to each other. A multitude of networks are available
to meet different uses. the strength of the IoT precisely to have a diversity
and heterogeneity of networks;
3- Service: middleware
technologies (inter-software, information exchange network. It connects several
computer applications)" that allows to communicate between them
"hardware (physical components)" and "software (software,
information system and applications)";
4- The interface: the platforms that present the applications to end users.