The IoT World Glossary

The fifth generation of wireless technology, 5G, aims to have three times the data communication speed of 4G. With 5G, data travels at multigigabit speeds. 5G is currently being deployed and offers faster speeds, lower latency, increased availability and improved reliability.

Low-Power Wireless Power Area Networks. A network for lower-powered devices to connect and participate in the IoT.

Assistance Driver-Assistance Systems are electronic systems that help connected and autonomous vehicles. They help the driver of smart vehicles while parking or driving.

AES, or The Advanced Encryption Standard, is a specification name given to the encryption of electronic data. The AES was chosen by the US government and is implemented to encrypt sensitive data.

Artificial Intelligence may also be known as Machine Intelligence. AI is the research and implementation of computer systems completing tasks which would usually require a human. In AI, a computer system can think and learn, making them ‘Smart’. Go to smart cities and smart vehicles.

Automation is the process in which technology can operate without the need for a human.

Big Data is the name given to large volumes of data. These data sets are so large that it’s difficult to apply normal techniques for data processing.

Edge Computing technology is central to a variety of computer tasks. Edge architecture brings compute resources closer to the data and devices that need them. At the point of writing, efforts are still underway for standards to be developed. Edge computing brings computing as close to the source of data to reduce latency, minimizing the amount of communication between the start to end by computing at the network’s edge.

Geofencing is a virtual fence on a real geographic area. Geofencing is a term used when talking about IoT outdoors. To capture and monitor broad locations, geofencing is more useful than pinpointing.

'Things', eg. devices in your home/office or vehicles on the road, connected by the internet that do not require human interaction to connect and exchange data. The 'things' are wirelessly connected.

Industrial IoT involves using connected sensors and enhancing devices for specific industrial applications, specifically in the manufacturing industry, improving processes and efficiency.

IoT systems contain sensors that pass on messages to the cloud. They are integral to the IoT and detect and respond to the environment. The sensors also share data with other connected devices. There are many different types of IoT Sensors and a large range of IoT Sensor uses.

IPv6 is the most recent type of Internet Protocol (IP) address. An IP address communicates the ID and location for computers or devices on internet connections.

Low-power wide-area networks are wireless networks allowing low bit rate, wide-range connections on the Internet of Things. They cost less than mobile networks and are used to connect low-bandwidth battery-powered devices.

Long-Term Evolution is a standard for wireless broadband. LTE is a type of 4G that is 10 times faster than 3G.

Machine to Machine, or M2M, is almost the exact same as IoT. M2M was the term often given to what is now 'IoT', however, M2M also includes wired machines or things. 

Machine Learning is the application of AI for machines to perform a task without instructions. Machine Learning involves computers developing their programs and learning and improving themselves.

Narrowband IoT is a standards-based LPWAN technology. NB-IoT improves the power consumption of user devices and efficiency. Watch this video to find out more.

Open Source is when source code is released that gives the user the right to modify, change, distribute and use the code in any way they see fit. Importantly, i’s not just about accessing the source code, as it also has distribution rules.

Software as a Service is when a third-party hosts applications for people to use over the internet. With SaaS, the user has a subscription to use the service. SaaS is one of the primary divisions of cloud computing.

A sensor hub assists with the combination of data from different sensors. The Sensor Hub processes the data, performing some of the work that would usually be done by a computer or CPU.

Smart cities use data and tech to improve their efficiency. In the IoT, smart cities improve services and the quality of life for people living in that geography. Also, smart cities have better energy infrastructure. Find out about Smart Cities Summit here.

A smart grid is an electrical grid. In IoT, they are used to detect changes in the environment such as tidal or tectonic activity. Likewise, they’re used in smart cities to manage tasks such as lighting, traffic control. Smart grids are important for generating and maintaining sustainable energy.

A smart home uses automation and technology to control electronic devices within the home. Find out more about the Smart Home Summit here.