Internet of Nano-Things, Things and Everything: Future Growth Trends
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future internet Review Internet of Nano-Things, Things and Everything: Future Growth Trends Mahdi H. Miraz 1 ID , Maaruf Ali 2, Peter S. Excell 3,* and Richard Picking 3 1 Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development (CFRED), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China; [email protected] 2 International Association of Educators and Researchers (IAER), Kemp House, 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX, UK; [email protected] 3 Faculty of Art, Science and Technology, Wrexham Glyndwrˆ University, Wrexham LL11 2AW, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +44-797-480-6644 Received: 22 June 2018; Accepted: 25 July 2018; Published: 28 July 2018 Abstract: The current statuses and future promises of the Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Everything (IoE) and Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT) are extensively reviewed and a summarized survey is presented. The analysis clearly distinguishes between IoT and IoE, which are wrongly considered to be the same by many commentators. After evaluating the current trends of advancement in the fields of IoT, IoE and IoNT, this paper identifies the 21 most significant current and future challenges as well as scenarios for the possible future expansion of their applications. Despite possible negative aspects of these developments, there are grounds for general optimism about the coming technologies. Certainly, many tedious tasks can be taken over by IoT devices. However, the dangers of criminal and other nefarious activities, plus those of hardware and software errors, pose major challenges that are a priority for further research. Major specific priority issues for research are identified. Keywords: internet of things (IoT); internet of everything (IoE); internet of nano-things (IoNT); bio internet of nano-things (BIoNT); medical internet of things (MIoT); consumer internet of things (CIoT); industrial internet of things (IIoT); human internet of things (HIoT); narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT); identity of things (IDoT); connectedness; gartner hype cycle; cyber-physical system (CPS); tactile internet; future internet 1. Introduction The applications and usage of the Internet are multifaceted and expanding daily. The Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Everything (IoE) and Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT) are new approaches for incorporating the Internet into the generality of personal, professional and societal life, plus the impersonal world of inanimate quasi-intelligent devices. This paper examines the current state of these technologies and their multidimensional applications by surveying the relevant literature. The paper also evaluates the various possible future applications of these technologies and foresees further developments and how these will both challenge and change the way that future life will be lived. This paper presents an update on our previous work [1] presented at the Internet Technologies and Applications Conference in 2015 (Wrexham, UK) by extending the survey duration to reflect the current technological advances since 2015. New dimensions of discussion have also been added such as the future challenges IoT is currently facing. The discussion on IoT, in Section2, has been further expanded by adding sub-categories of IoT based on the scope of its usage as well as the components of typical IoT systems, with a listing of the top ten IoT segments for 2018 based on a survey of 1600 enterprise IoT projects. The discussion on IoNT has been augmented by the inclusion of discussion of the Internet Future Internet 2018, 10, 68; doi:10.3390/fi10080068 www.mdpi.com/journal/futureinternet Future Internet 2018, 10, 68 2 of 28 of Bio-Nano-Things (IoBNT), limitations and challenges of IoNT and presentation of examples of earlier research advances in the field. The deliberation on “Future Internet” has been extended as well as updated to reflect new research, associated challenges and future trends. Section6, namely “Challenges and Impediments to IoT”, has been added, scrutinizing 21 of the most significant current and future challenges. The paper first provides a critical discussion on IoT, IoE and IoNT in Sections2–4 respectively. Future Internet 2018, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 27 Section5 portrays the Future Internet that is predicted to be mediated by adoption of IoT. Challengesof the Internet and Impediments of Bio-Nano-Things to IoT are (IoBNT), covered limitations in Section and6. Sectionchallenges7 ends of IoNT the paperand presentation with up-to-date of concludingexamples discussions. of earlier research advances in the field. The deliberation on “Future Internet” has been extended as well as updated to reflect new research, associated challenges and future trends. Section 6, 2. Internetnamely of “Challenges Things (IoT) and Impediments to IoT”, has been added, scrutinizing 21 of the most significant currentThe term and “Internet future challenges. of Things” or “Internet of Objects” has come to represent electrical or electronic The paper first provides a critical discussion on IoT, IoE and IoNT in Sections 2–4 respectively. devices, of varying sizes and capabilities, that are connected to the Internet, but excluding those Section 5 portrays the Future Internet that is predicted to be mediated by adoption of IoT. Challenges primarily involved in communications with human beings, i.e., the traditional Internet. The scope of and Impediments to IoT are covered in Section 6. Section 7 ends the paper with up-to-date concluding the connectionsdiscussions. is ever broadening beyond basic machine-to-machine communication (M2M) [2]. IoT devices employ a broad array of networking protocols, applications and network domains [3]. The rising2. Internet preponderance of Things (IoT) of IoT technology is facilitated by physical objects being linked to the Internet by variousThe types term of “Internet short-range of Things” wireless or technologies“Internet of suchObjects” as: RFID,has come UWB, to represent ZigBee, sensorelectrical networks or and throughelectronic location-based devices, of varying technologies sizes and [capabilities,4]. The emergence that are ofconnected IoT as a to distinctive the Internet, entity but wasexcluding achieved, accordingthose primarily to the Internet involved Business in communications Solutions Group with human (IBSG), beings, actually i.e., whenthe traditional more inanimate Internet. The objects werescope connected of the toconnections the Internet is thanever humanbroadening users beyond [5]. According basic machine-to-machine to this definition, communication this occurred in mid-2008.(M2M)This [2]. is an accelerating ongoing process, especially with the rollout of Cisco’s “Planetary Skin”, theIoT Smart devices Grid employ and intelligent a broad array vehicles of networking [5]. IoT will protocols, make applications the impact ofand the network Internet domains even more pervasive,[3]. The personal rising preponderance and intimate of in IoT the technology daily lives is of facilitated people. by physical objects being linked to the InternetIoT devices by various are not types currently of short-range strongly wireless standardized technologies in how such they as: RFID, are connected UWB, ZigBee, to the sensor Internet, networks and through location-based technologies [4]. The emergence of IoT as a distinctive entity apart from their networking protocols; however, this could be a relatively short-term inhibiting factor. was achieved, according to the Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), actually when more IoT may be employed with added management and security features to link, for example, vehicle inanimate objects were connected to the Internet than human users [5]. According to this definition, electronics,this occurred home in environmental mid-2008. This management is an accelerating systems, ongoing telephone process, networks especially and with control the rollout of domestic of utilityCisco’s services. “Planetary The expanding Skin”, the scopeSmart Grid of IoT and and intelligent how it canvehicles be used [5]. IoT to interconnect will make the various impact of disparate the networksInternet is showneven more inFigure pervasive,1[5]. personal and intimate in the daily lives of people. FigureFigure 1. IoT1. IoT can can be be viewed viewed as as a a NetworkNetwork of of Networks. Networks. Adapted Adapted from from [5].[ 5]. IoT devices are not currently strongly standardized in how they are connected to the Internet, apart from their networking protocols; however, this could be a relatively short-term inhibiting factor. IoT may be employed with added management and security features to link, for example, vehicle electronics, home environmental management systems, telephone networks and control of Future Internet 2018, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 27 Future Internet 2018, 10, 68 3 of 28 domestic utility services. The expanding scope of IoT and how it can be used to interconnect various disparate networks is shown in Figure 1 [5]. BasedBased onon thethe typetype ofof use, use, IoTIoT can can be be further further categorizedcategorized asas IndustrialIndustrial InternetInternet ofof ThingsThings (IIoT)(IIoT) andand ConsumerConsumer InternetInternet ofof ThingsThings (CIoT),(CIoT), alternativelyalternatively knownknown asas HumanHuman InternetInternet ofof ThingsThings (HIoT),(HIoT), asas shown shown in in Figure Figure2 :2: FigureFigure 2.2.IIoT IIoT andandCIoT, CIoT, adapted adapted from from Moor Moor Insights Insights & & Strategy’s Strategy’s Report Report [ 6[6].]. AA generic