In today’s age of connected living, the Internet of Things is increasingly gaining prominence. We’ve all heard of smart phones and smart TV’s, but what does it mean to make “things” “smart”?
What is the Internet of Things?
The term “Internet of Things” (IoT) was coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton who said that “The IoT integrates the interconnectedness of human culture – our ‘things’ – with the interconnectedness of our digital information system – ‘the internet’. That’s the Internet of Things”. This includes cars, appliances, watches, and even heart monitors that are connected to the internet and collect data to optimize their function. This list is ever growing as companies around the world connect thousands of devices every day. It’s predicted that the total number of IoT connections will grow from six billion in 2015 to 27 billion in 2025. That’s a lot of things on the internet! And these numbers speak for themselves — connected living is the future.
What do these numbers actually mean for our day-to-day life?
Would you like to get notified when your latest Amazon Prime package is delivered? Has your assistant, Alexa, suggested any new food services? Do you dream of warming up or cooling down your home before you return home in the evening? How about a self-driving car? Or something as simple and luxurious as your coffee maker preparing your morning coffee before you have even left your bed? All of this is possible through the Internet of Things. In short, IoT makes our life easier simply by sharing data over the Internet.
Over at VMedia, we have a soft spot for the internet – after all, providing high-speed internet and services that reach our consumers over it – TV, phone and home security – is our business. Here are some of our favourite IoT innovations to live a connected life:
Nest Learning Thermostat
Living in Canada, especially Toronto, means summer days with highs reaching 35 degrees Celcius and winter days with lows of -35 degrees Celcius. Nest, a google product, is a smart thermostat that learns your household’s schedule and warms/cools down your home based on your needs.
August Smart Lock – HomeKit enabled
Gone are the days of worrying about lost keys or worrying about keys when you are on an evening walk. The August smart lock enables keyless entry for you, your family, friends, dog walker, even Airbnb guests with this smart lock. August lets you control and monitor your door from anywhere. And it retrofits to your existing deadbolt, features remote control through your smart phone with Connect or Doorbell Cam, and it always knows when your door is closed and locked.
Amazon Echo
Smart speakers have been steadily gaining popularity – Amazon Echo is a voice-activated speaker that lets you can play your favourite music, ask questions, make calls, get the latest sports scores, weather – instantly and hands-free. All you have to do is ask Alexa.
Apple Watch
No list of smart devices could be complete without the world’s best smart watch – the Apple Watch 3 now comes with an LTE connection, long battery life and fast speeds to flick through the same apps that you have on your iPhone. Respond to your messages, monitor your sleep, and even swim with your Apple Watch.
WeMo Smart Plug
Perhaps the most accessible way to make your home ‘smart’ – the WeMo uses your existing home wi-fi network to give you remote and wireless control of anything that you can plug into the wall – with no subscription or hub required. Protect your home with randomized lights when you are away, schedule your lights or appliances and never get up in the middle of the night to turn off the fan. Simply plug in the WeMo smart plug and control your device using the free WeMo app.
What do all of these devices have in common? Your VMedia wireless internet connection, offering unlimited usage, facilitates all of these smart devices to power your smart home. VMedia’s internet service provides fast, reliable internet at the low prices that you should be paying. Through a choice of DSL, Fibre Internet and Cable, you can all the speed you need to keep your home and all your smart devices running. All of our internet plans are unlimited so connect your devices, surf, stream and download without worrying about any additional charges on your monthly bill.
The “Internet of Things” is changing and improving that way we live, work and play – and we at VMedia continue to look forward to these ongoing and exciting innovations.