The Internet of Things has positioned itself as a tool for the future to help citizens face the coronavirus era, we have all adapted to new technologies and discovered their benefits, although there is still a long way to go. As a result, COVID-19 could well have been the consecration of the Internet of Things (IoT).
The IoT market, valued at $ 150 billion in 2019, is expected to reach $ 243 billion in 2021. Telecommuting, chain tracking, contactless payments and even a "Health 4.0" have only been made possible by various IoT applications.
So what technologies are really here to stay? How can IoT help in a long distance social setting or in the next pandemic? What kind of technologies could we bet on to return to work?
We will explore the different areas in which IoT has helped us overcome the worst phase of the pandemic and how COVID-19 has changed our perception of IoT forever.
Telecommuting for example, was mandatory during the alarm state. It offers us more flexibility, less time lost on trips from home to work, allows companies to save on physical spaces and have work teams in different places. Even before the pandemic, the most popular IoT technologies in business were sensors (84%), data processing (77%), and cloud platforms (76%).
Without a doubt, it would not have been possible to keep infrastructures functioning without all the technology that we have adopted in recent years: cloud computing, collaboration tools (such as video conferencing software, project management, chats), remote access to computers and synchronization of devices, VPN and mobile-first applications.
Another example will be smart sensors to measure air quality. Concern about air quality increases as more is discovered about the behavior of SARS-CoV-2.
One of the fastest, and relatively inexpensive, solutions is the installation of sensors that collect information on air quality and are connected to an Artificial Intelligence system that can activate and deactivate AVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems according to sea necessary.
Health is one of the sectors that gains the most with technological development. Today, we can talk about "telemedicine" and "interactive medicine" to accompany patients who are at home or who cannot travel to the hospital. Some of the technologies that we apply in Industry 4.0 also have applications here - it is possible to interconnect imaging and radiology equipment or monitor patients remotely, for example - and from there a true "Health 4.0" is born.
The Internet of Things seems to be the future and will provide effective solutions in many sectors that we cannot imagine at the moment.
