Getting started with IoT

Glossary
TERM
MEANING
Actuator
Application/App
Cloud / Cloud computing / Cloud storage
Communications network
Cyber security
Dashboard
Data analytics
Data / Big data
Data repository
Development platform/Storage
Edge computing
Edge node / End node
Embedded software
End device, node, mote
Firmware
Fog computing
Gateway
IoT
IIoT / Industry 4.0 / Digital manufacturing
M2M
Microcontroller
Network server
Peak power
Processor/Microprocessor
RFID
Sensor
Visualisation
Wireless technologies
A component of a machine responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or system.
A piece of software running on a server or on a device such as a tablet.
A network of remote servers hosted online that can store, manage and process data and that can host applications.
Enables devices connected to the network to communicate with each other. For example, to transfer information
from sensors to the cloud.
Protecting hardware, software and data from unauthorised access or attack.
Also known as a User Interface or UI, this allows a person to interact with the computer system,
e.g., a computer screen, tablet, mobile phone.
Analysis of captured data to detect trends or anomalies. Once patterns have been detected, this can allow
better decisions to be made.
Large amounts of data that are gathered through many IoT devices. By applying analytical techniques to
this data, it is possible to determine trends and make decisions.
Individual IoT sensor nodes usually have limited storage space, so the data they collect is moved to remote
database storage where it can be processed from a centralised location.
Standard commercial electronic boards that allow engineers to build prototypes of systems before they go on to
design custom hardware. Development platforms often include various sensors integrated directly on to the board.
Similar to fog computing, edge computing refers to computing services located at the logical edge of a network.
The sensor which resides at the edge of an IoT system is often referred to as an edge node or end node.
The software that runs on the hardware microcontrollers performing the low-level functions, for example reading
from sensors and relaying data back to the gateway or server. See also Firmware.
An object with an embedded low-power communication chipset.
Think of firmware simply as ‘software for hardware’. It is embedded in a microcontroller memory at the time of
manufacture and is responsible for controlling all aspects of the hardware. It is often permanent for the lifetime
of the project, but can be updated if necessary (for example, through over-the-air-programming). It is also
known as ‘Embedded software’.
Computing power that is physically closer to, or even housed in the IoT device (i.e., it moves some processing
from the cloud to a lower level). Processing is generally conducted at the gateway level before the processed
data is passed to the cloud. Often, this can greatly reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred.
A device which connects end devices to the internet. It provides a connection point from one network (or protocol)
to another. For example, some gateways receive LoRaWAN transmissions from sensors and forward these over
the Internet to be processed in the cloud.
Internet of Things. A system of devices using a network to connect and communicate with each other.
Industrial Internet of Things. Manufacturers use sensor networks and real-time analytics to monitor and automate
complex processes in an industrial environment.
Machine to machine: connected devices exchanging information with other connected devices, without
human intervention.
An active device containing a processing core, program, user memory and other peripherals for communicating
with, and gathering data from, connected devices such as sensors, actuators, external memory, displays and other
microcontrollers. Microcontrollers often come in very small packages, consume very low amounts of power and
are commonly used in battery operated applications. Some microcontrollers contain radio modules for
communicating wirelessly with smart devices via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth etc.
Servers that route messages from end devices to the correct application, and back.
The power used by devices will vary over time, e.g., IoT devices will typically use more power when they turn
on their radio links. The peak power is the maximum power sustained over a short time and will often limit the
minimum battery size.
The brain of the IoT device – can read and forward sensor data or can perform processing tasks.
Radio-frequency identification uses short-range radio frequency signals to transfer data wirelessly. RFID tags
or smart labels can be fixed to items, allowing users to track and identify them.
A device which detects or measures a physical property.
Presenting the data gathered in a meaningful way.
Any form of communications between devices that doesn’t require a wired connection. Some wireless
technologies existed pre-IoT, some have been designed specifically for it. See page 16-18 for available technologies.
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