The evolution of the global internet has resulted in virtual connections that affect real-world objects and activities. Everything is connected to everything else, and this creates a distributed ecosystem that reaches far beyond the interconnectivity of things. This is known as the Internet of Everything.
Even though the Internet of Everything arose from the Internet of Things, it has become a dynamically evolving phenomenon that is meant to change the business world.
People often confuse the Internet of Everything with the Internet of Things, but in reality, these two concepts are quite different. First came the Internet of Things, a term that was initially used in 1999, describing networks of physical devices such as vehicles or appliances, interlinked by means of an internet connection, and that can exchange information and data. This also refers to a machine-to-machine communication, that does not have any human implications.
The Internet of Things has caught the attention of most of us, as it can make our lives easier, lower costs and increase efficiency and productivity in any business or industry that it’s being used in. And it is also a part of the digital transformation process that everyone is talking about, and has businesses on their toes.
However, more recently, the phrase “Internet of Everything” has come into use. This is a rather new concept, and can be assimilated to an extension of the Internet of Things. As the term suggests, the Internet of Everything refers to a broad sphere, that involves more than machines, as opposed to IoT. In addition to the machine-to-machine communication, IoE includes people-to-machine communication, as well as people-to-people communication.
The four main components that make up the Internet of Everything are the devices that are connected and share information with each other, the people, data and processes. The latter brings all the rest of the elements together, ensuring that they all work in such a way that adds value and practicability to the entire system; the data is collected and processed into valuable information that represents the foundation for decision-making; and the people, that are responsible for the people-to-machine and people-to-people communication, portray the invisible intelligent connection that ties everything together.
The Internet of Everything is looking to connect us to everything that we’re surrounded with, whereas the Internet of Things concentrates solely on devices. IoE can revolutionize businesses’ models and strategies and can change the consumer’s experience entirely. The Internet of Everything represents the basis of smart cities, smart agriculture, smart transportation and everything that implies collecting and transforming data in real time and transmitting it to the right person at the exact time, in order to add value to the connection.
Conclusion
Although the Internet of Everything and the Internet of Things are concepts that might seem similar at a first glance, analyzing the two shows notable differences. IoE represents a larger concept, that encompasses the second (IoT), sees the bigger picture, and ultimately opens up vast arrays of opportunities for businesses and industries alike.
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