It’s the idea that all devices can be connected to the Internet through the use of sensors or other hardware.
The technology that powers smart buildings and cities is called the Internet of Things.
It’s the idea that all devices can be connected to the Internet through the use of sensors or other hardware. And when those devices are connected, they can talk to one another and collect information.
Johnson Controls — the building efficiency and automotive battery company that purchased the naming rights to the Hall of Fame Village development — on its website explains the Internet of Things as sensors in the road that help manage traffic, vending machines that tell the operator when they need to be refilled, and pacemakers that alert doctors to problems.
The company’s primary use of the Internet of Things, however, is related to building efficiency. At its North American operational headquarters in Wisconsin, the thermostats are connected to a building system that shows operators what the temperature is in a room and allows it to be adjusted remotely. The window shades are programmable and adjust themselves based on the location of the sun. Conference rooms automatically begin heating or cooling in advance of scheduled meetings. Similar features will be incorporated into the Village as it is built in Canton.
The Internet of Things stretches into homes, too. Business Insider, at the end of 2016, looked at the ways connected devices can change quality of life. Smart homes, much like smart buildings, can lower utility bills by reducing energy usage. Connected devices usually cost more, the article said, but they also enable a person to use his or her smartphone to turn on the lights or air conditioning right before arriving home, instead of leaving them on at all times.
The Internet of Things dates back to 1999, but it took a decade for the concept to take off. By 2010, there were more devices connected to the Internet than there were people on the planet, according to a Cisco study.
The same study stresses the importance of the widespread use of the Internet of Things: ” … humanity will have the knowledge and wisdom it needs not only to survive, but to thrive in the coming months, years, decades, and centuries.”
Reach Alison at 330-580-8312 or [email protected].
On Twitter: @amatasREP
