Internet of Things: Towards a Solid Ecosystem of Interconnected Things

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technological revolution that has changed everything we do and given us a new perspective on our daily lives, but despite the fact that numerous publications have focused on characterizing the many edges and technologies that make up an IoT system, the IoT ecosystem is still seen as too complex to be recognized as a stand-alone environment due to its significant diversity; hence, the objective of this research is to address such a complex environment in a way that highlights its components and distinguishes them both individually and in relation to their broader context. Therefore, the definition of IoT and its emergence were discussed and organized around the timeline of Internet development phases demonstrating that IoT has been a need that has accompanied the presence of the Internet since its early stages, and then its growth and impact were discussed and highlighted with estimates and numbers. On the technical side, each of the following groups, IoT components, protocols, and architectures, was defined, discussed, and grouped in such a way that their intergroup organization, as well as their placement and contribution to the overall ecosystem, was highlighted. This, in addition to the various examples mentioned throughout the discussion, will provide the reader with a better understanding of the Internet of Things and how deeply it has become entwined in our daily lives and routines as a result of its numerous applications.