The Internet of Things (IoT) has grown exponentially in a very short period of time. Smart gadgets, although being relatively new, are omnipresent in business and consumer spheres, and they show no indications of slowing down.
While the expansion of the Internet of Things may remain constant in 2022, it will fluctuate and adapt. Here are six trends that will impact the Internet of Things this year.
1. IoMT Continues to Expand
With the increased demand for hands-free health solutions, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). In 2021, 64% of US households reported utilizing these services, with 43% intending to continue using them after the epidemic. These indicators lead to ongoing IoMT growth in 2022.
Wearable health monitoring, for example, will become increasingly common in order to extend at-home treatment. IoT connection will be used by hospitals to track resources and perform remote appointments. Even after the epidemic has passed, these patterns will continue to increase in order to make healthcare more accessible.
2. Security Remains a Focus
As the Internet of Things develops in popularity, its security flaws become increasingly worrying. Breaching linked automobiles might result in around 3,000 deaths during peak hour traffic. As more IoT devices are produced and cybercrime increases, security will become a priority.
More built-in security safeguards, such as secret computing and verification mechanisms for over-the-air updates, will be included by IoT makers. To supplement that update, security providers will provide additional IoT-specific services. Vulnerabilities will not vanish completely, but they will be reduced.
3. 5G Drives IIoT Growth
One of the most potential applications for these technologies is industrial IoT (IIoT). Simultaneously, present networks’ low capacity and excessive latency impede their deployment. The arrival of 5G in 2022 will change all of that.
There are currently 48 billion internet-connected gadgets, straining present networks. Because of 5G’s quicker speeds, reduced latency, and larger capacity, industrial facilities will be able to spread the IIoT to additional locations. Entire factories might be transformed into unified, interconnected entities.
4. IoT Delivers Supply Chain Resiliency
Businesses were affected by supply chain interruptions between 2020 and 2021. As a result, more businesses will integrate IoT connections into their logistical operations. Remote tracking will give the transparency required by businesses to detect and respond to disturbances before they occur.
Furthermore, the data collected by these devices may be fed into sophisticated algorithms, which can then deliver actionable insights. These improvements will make supply chains significantly more robust, yet they will be impossible to achieve without greater IoT use. As a consequence, supply chain IoT might rise.
5. Edge Computing Grows
As IoT networks expand, they will pave the door for yet another unavoidable innovation: edge computing. Edge computing has the potential to make self-driving cars more practical while also addressing many of today’s bandwidth, security, and cloud dependability issues. Despite these advantages, it is still a niche technology today, but that will change as the Internet of Things expands.
Edge computing will become more dependable and scalable as IoT security and processing power improve. As smart city infrastructure becomes more widespread, this technology may begin to impact consumer applications.
6. Wearables Reach New Heights
Wearables are among the most mainstream consumer IoT areas, and this trend is expected to continue beyond 2022. Wearables are currently dominated by smartwatches and wristbands, but they will become significantly diversified in the future. Smart rings, smart eyewear, linked fabric, and IoT ID tags are already on the market and will take off.
Between 2016 and 2019, the number of connected wearables more than quadrupled, a trend that will be accelerated by more diversified offers. Wearables will aid enhance accessibility for persons with impairments, increase augmented reality (AR) apps, and assist companies in reducing workplace injuries by 2022, among other things.
