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This month I am going to talk a little about the Internet of Things (IOT). What is IOT? In short, it is any device that is connected to the internet. Although that is not strictly true as devices could be connected to a closed network that is NOT connected to the internet. This year we could break the 30 billion devices mark or 4.2 (ish) devices for every person on the planet. 

The biggest explosion recently has been in the last 3 or 4 years with advances in AI and voice recognition and smart home connected devices. One specialist area within this is sensors. If you have an Amazon Echo, google home or similar, you may be interested in the following items. Door sensors that inform you if a door has been open, closed, or open for too long. It can trigger an alert or send an email.  

There is a third party system called IFTTT (If this, then that) which can be used to give many more options to what can happen, called applets, for example, the front door sensor at your parents home is opened. After 5 minutes of still being open, your parents get an email to check the door. After 10 minutes of being open, an email is sent to you, your siblings, neighbours etc, asking to check on your parents or the door. You call, they answer, everything is OK, or you call, they don’t answer, and rush home to check what’s going on. It’s a very basic security system but functional.  

There are various sensors and cameras that you can buy also. Ones that detect water, temperature changes, air quality, motion sensors, light sensors and more! Each one can have different reactions or actions. EG. IF “temperature drops below 18 degrees celsius” THEN DO THIS “turn on heater in the vivarium”. There are limits, but normally you have to be doing loads of complicated things. I use the temperature sensor for the dogs if we are at work. IF “Between 8am and 6pm, if the temperature is above 25 degrees” THEN “turn on dog pen fan” or in the winter, IF “Between 8am and 6pm the temperature is below 15 degrees” THEN “turn on outside heater in dog pen”. Simple, but functional, and useful when you are not at home and want to automate the process.  

Although similar to Amazon Routines, it does give you more control. I hope this may encourage you to investigate the options within reach of your finger tips!