How cloud-agnostic hardware could be the future of IoT

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We live in an increasingly connected world. Never in the history of mankind has information been so easily accessible. Today, it's not just people who are more connected with each other, but devices that are connected with people and processes and people who are connected with devices that connect them to other people, processes and devices. It truly is a connected world - and we have information to thank for that.

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays an important role in connectivity, and today we're looking at the role of hardware-agnostic in IoT. We will cover the critical questions being asked today in the IoT industry. This includes the benefits of cloud-agnostic hardware, how cloud-agnostic hardware affects the IoT, and whether there is an alternative to cloud-agnostic hardware.

Related: The Internet of Things promises a future where you're pampered by your devices

What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects embedded with other connectivity technologies that connect and exchange data with other systems and devices through the Internet.

As you check your smartphone for the latest reports on your sleep patterns, heart rate, and calories burned during your last exercise session, have you ever wondered how all this information is collected? Tiny but powerful sensors and software reside in your portable device. These are designed to manage all your fitness information, analyze it and send it back to you as a report on your smartphone.

In an increasingly connected world, connected devices are tools for accessing and sharing essential information related to home, health, finances and even news. Smart home appliances and wearable devices are commonly used as singular technologies to facilitate daily tasks. Experts predict that the use of connected devices as part of a networked device ecosystem is on the rise.

Related: The Internet of Things: New Threats Emerge in a Connected World

From healthcare and power to energy and manufacturing, every industry is turning to the IoT to improve operational efficiency and productivity and create new business opportunities. IoT hardware used across industries includes accelerometers, temperature, image, light, acoustics, and pressure sensors.

Industries are increasingly realizing the importance of effectively using data and integrating disparate systems to gain visibility and better understand their operations.

Does the IoT need the cloud?

Technically, the IoT does not require a cloud. Many data processing and ordering forms can be done locally via a simple internet connection.

Cloud-independent hardware: Sensors and devices communicate with the cloud via connectivity (satellite, cellular, Wi-Fi, LPWAN, and even Bluetooth). The data collected in the cloud is processed by software which decides what action is required. For example, if the data should be sent as an alert or, in some cases, used to adjust sensors/devices without human intervention.

Related: How Entrepreneurs are Connecting the World to IoT

The Benefits of Cloud-Agnostic Hardware in the IoT Today

Industries use a large number of sensors to collect and process data, and then make intelligent decisions based on that data. The cloud is essential when it contains large amounts of essential data.

For example, at NCD, we have created an IoT SDI soil moisture temperature EC transmitter that uses a wireless mesh network architecture with an SDI soil probe. The probe samples the soil moisture temperature EC level at multiple locations and sends a remote wireless transmission...