The smart devices you use in your home and at work are able to gather data from their surroundings, communicate with each other via different wireless protocols (like Bluetooth, Zigbee, Near-field communication or Wi-Fi) and execute certain commands based on what they have learned. This makes it possible for these devices to automate tasks and make life easier. Examples of common smart devices include smartphones, phablets and tablets, smart speakers and smart cars. In the context of healthcare, smart monitors can collect health data and send it to medical professionals, while smart cameras allow you to keep an eye on your home or office 24/7.
Our recent study on IoT-SHT found that most participants enjoy the time savings and convenience of their smart devices. They also appreciate the possibility to remotely access their homes from anywhere using a smartphone app, and to communicate with family members through built in video chat. However, some participants experienced privacy concerns and a lack of control over how their personal data is used in connected devices.
The security of your smart devices depends on how well the underlying technologies are designed. The most critical factors are the sensors, processors and connectivity standards. The processors (like the ones in your computer) analyze the information gathered by the sensors and send instructions to actuators, which can move or change a device’s state. Embedded operating systems are often used in these devices, especially real-time operating systems such as Linux, which can act within milliseconds.