Today, there are around 26.66 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the market and the number is projected to rise to 75.44 billion devices by 2025. With the rapid proliferation of IoT devices, more connected mobile apps will be required to allow users to access devices from anywhere over the internet.
The connected mobile application acts as a main interface for controlling IoT devices, says Prima Saraiya. It helps user to connect to device remotely and monitor the functionality of devices which makes connected mobile app is a key to any IoT Solutions.
Difference between connected apps and standard apps for mobile
A standard app provides the content to the user from predefined values or cloud using APIs. While a connected solution consists of an IoT device, cloud, and mobile app which collectively and seamlessly work together to provide the best user experience in real-time. Connected IoT applications are more complex in nature as compared to standard mobile applications
Components associated with IoT
IoT products (data generation)
There can be two kind of IoT products interacting with the connected app. One is IoT Gateway and other is End devices/Sensors. Depending upon the end user industry application, in the solution it may vary that connected app is communicating to directly sensors/devices or IoT Gateway or to both the kind of products. Primarily the products are the key component in generating required data and helping them to transfer to IoT Cloud.
IoT cloud (Data processing)
Data collected from devices/sensors are transmitted to a cloud infrastructure via gateway through various mediums of communication such as LTE and Wi-Fi networks. The collected data is stored securely on the cloud, where the software processes the acquired data according to user access level and provide access to authentic users or devices only.
Connected app (User interface)
Connected app connect to cloud and collect all the necessary information to based on predefined solution logic. This will help user to make the right decision based on the condition. The user will initiate command to the cloud to perform desire action which will be routed though Gateway to initiate the various commands for their connected devices to implement scenario directed by the user from the app.
Key challenges in developing connected applications
Security & privacy
The biggest challenge is to provide security for user and devices data considering security threat at all levels including application, network and transport layers to prevent data leak or hacking. As it is a connected solution the security breach at app level will have effect on the entire solution. App being a primary control point for the user it makes even more necessary to protect it completely against any such threat
Connectivity
Ensuring real-time connectivity with the system either in the local mode or in the remote mode having a smooth transition is a need of the hour for this kind of critical IoT Solutions. Establishing a resource optimised connectivity of app to IoT eco system is also a one of the key challenges to deliver enhance experience to consumers
Compatibility (OS/IoT Platform & solutions)
IoT development requires a balance of hardware [...]
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by Anasia D'mello, Khareem Sudlow
