Covid-19 created a big impact on Society and World economy. Health care officials are working hard to prevent citizens from infection and provide adequate facilities and treatment to the infected. The present situation accelerates the developments of many technologies and new experiences in the coming years.
Internet of things; commonly known as IoT has a great scope for future and finds applications in the day-to-day activities. It extends Internet connectivity beyond standard devices such as desktops, laptops, smartphones to everyday objects. IoT can be implemented in Healthcare sector, Transportation and in other smart devices.
IoT health applications
Significant benefits can be provided to the health sector by introducing IoT in it. IoT helps in connecting devices and helps in connected health and ambulance. Telemedicine, a buzzword during this pandemic is an application of IoT and enables remote healthcare. It helps the doctors to treat patients via smartphones or computers. IoT finds uses in diagnostics in the near future and become a part of Digital diagnostics. In China, connected thermometers have been used to monitor COVID-19 patients. Along with that, Smart wearables available there can monitor heart rate, temperature and blood oxygen levels. Post Covid-19 will see a rise in IoT use in health sector.
IoT in Transportation
Transportation network will entirely change with the developments in IoT. Using this technology, real time traction of vehicles and passengers can be done. This real time traction helps in Logistics and supply chain management and reduce unnecessary expenses. Drones finds important applications in the recent years. Earlier it was used in surveillance, but now it can be use in deliver of goods. During this pandemic, In China a Shenzhen based Start up implemented drones for home delivery of drugs and meals. Transportation seems to have developments like hyperloop, personal rapid transit system and Pod taxi. IoT have immense applications when this network starts to operate.
Future and challenges
Covid-19 disrupted the operations of organizations and therefore organizations are looking for innovative ideas to improve the performance and their revenue. IoT is a new technology and therefore industries accept in the near future. It was also expected that use of IoT devices will surge to 31 million by the end of 2020, especially in Asia Pacific region.
Though there are opportunities available for IoT to flourish, there exists some challenges. IoT needs better connectivity to complete its operations. The speed of 4G connectivity in some of the major economies are not up to the mark. 5G connectivity is in developments and still need money and time to implement. Because of this pandemic and economic slowdown, organizations won’t encourage huge investments. This may delay the developments of IoT.
