Internet of Things
Internet of things (IoT), The burning topic of the 21st century comprises digital devices linked together through the internet. IoT is on its steady way to becoming the actual thing. Even if it hasn’t reached its marked potential as many people were expecting it to reach a few years back. The main thing is only a few doubts about smart technology obstruct the ultimate revolution in technology. Connected appliances, already on the verge of embarking the beginning of the Internet of Things. IoT has accomplished such tasks that can only read or imagined.
Though, not many stops to think seriously that the Internet of Things also vows to bring difficulties and concerns. These include technical, environmental, social, and energy-related problems. Not acknowledging the new difficulties and problems can lead to a chaos future. Different concerns have raised by analysts, counted as the challenges in the implementation of the Internet of Things.
Challenges in implementing the Internet of Things
Security threats of Internet of Things
We have always been in a situation where comes the choice between security and convenience. Manufacturers have always focused on this attachment of ours towards the convenience. So, we can’t say that the Internet of Things will be an exception to this. We already are so rattled by the high profile hacking that is going on around at the current time.
Devices such as smartphones and smart TVs routers are unsafe. Even social media account, bank accounts, etc. are not safer from such hacking, but these things are only a subject of alarm. Very little is done to stop this even in the time when the Internet of Things is still in a neonatal phase. There will come a time when it is fully loaded and running, with people’s convenience. Even their lives rely on technology, we can’t be as inconsiderate towards security as we are now. Hence, there is always a threat to the security of data and information. It will cause great panic if we are not able to handle security issues.
Considering a present scenario, when the default login in a router is still ‘admin’ and ‘admin’. How easy it is to have access to the data and information that we have on our system. Then, imagine a threat carried in a condition when we will have millions of connected devices in a system. All of a sudden, we feel that the security problems that we are facing now are nowhere near the future condition. But what if when the Internet of Things is in its apex.
Privacy threats of Internet of Things
Internet of Things is a bank of information and data but without real security. Not only there is a threat to the privacy of the users from a group of hackers. But a threat possessed by the government is also one of the major challenges.
We already are in the time where our smartphones are tracked. Where the information shared in our private social media account is not private anymore. Though the social media site denies it, we all know what they are selling (Don’t we?).
Imagine a time when the Internet of Things is actually a reality, the manufacturers of the smart devices and even the government keep track of our private data and use them for their interest. Nightmares! Aren’t they? Internet of Things also produces multiple legal issues and the debate. What rights the user should have and what not always creates a havoc situation.
Increasing Energy Demands
We have already discussed the numbers behind the Internet of Things; around 50 billion devices would be connected to each other by 2020. The energy consumption will be huge for powering the system and the smart devices and with the popularity of the Internet of Things likely to be grown each year, the energy demand will also reach a new height.
Data centers of the internet consume over 30 billion watts of electricity. That much power is enough to power an entire town. And to interconnect entire world, the required energy will be unmanageable.
Disposal of increasing wastage
The number of connected smart devices (IoT devices) creates wastages. Smart devices can be compared to the computers and smartphones that have a lifespan of only a few years, and the waste disposal is going to be a huge problem once the Internet of Things is up and running.
We have different conventions and rules on waste disposal at the current time, but how much effective? Encouraging enough? No, we are not blind!! Recycling of wastages? only 20% of wastage is recycled, And What about the rest 80 percent?
Setting up the Open Standards
Many individual devices having their specifications will consist of the Internet of Things. The smart devices communicating with each other will require a common platform. Much of the appliance, constructed with open-source software possess bugs and viruses. There should be protocols and standards to control that which we are lagging at the moment.
Whether the current standards are able to handle the situation. If not then some new standards must be set up as the time grows is always a hot topic of debate. The complications with setting and applying the standards and protocol is always a back-breaking challenge. Without proper implementation of the standards, the development process of the Internet of Things will be much slower than anticipated.
In Conclusion
To conclude, there is no reason to block the progress of the Internet of Things based on these challenges. There can be many more challenges as the time towards the reality marches near. it’s sure that the future is a complete change, and the problems, greater than anticipated today.
Why be excited? Because we have seen the humongous revolutions created by personal computers and smartphones. And imagining something great in terms of revolution is nobody’s fault. We should be aware of the challenges that come with it. We may not be able to suppress all the challenges and difficulties, but at least we can try to make ourselves prepared for those challenges.