The Difference between IoT and IoE Unraveled

IoT and IoE are gaining momentum.

The internet of things (IoT) is a term used to describe interconnectivity between everyday objects.

The internet of everything (IoE) is a broader term that encompasses the internet of things along with four key elements, namely data, people, things, and processes.

Although both of these terms may seem similar to a general audience, there is quite a difference between the internet of things and internet of everything. The internet of things is just a small subset of the internet of everything. The definition of the internet of things is becoming vaguer with advancements in technology and will be replaced with the internet of everything eventually.

The Internet of Things

The internet of things includes everyday objects connected to each other. It encompasses hardware like smartwatches, laptops, computers, and also various smart devices such smart speakers, home assistants, smart thermostats, etc. that are connected to the internet or a local network and can exchange data with each other. The internet of things is slowly transforming into the internet of everything with the addition of AI, ML, and intelligent data. More and more devices are getting connected with the internet pushing the envelope of the internet of things. The Internet of things will continue to evolve with the emergence of new technologies and new objects incorporated with network technologies.

Internet of Everything

1. Cisco defines the Internet of everything as "The intelligent connection of people, process, data, and things.” It is the superset of the internet of things as it includes everything contained in the internet of things along with the four key elements. The four key elements of the internet of everything are People: People are the end nodes connected across the internet.
   
   
2. Processes: Processes ensure that the right information is sent to the right person.
   
   
3. Data: Raw data is analyzed and can help in empowering solutions.
   
   
4. Things: Things are devices embedded with sensors that generate data.
   
   

The internet of everything relies on Machine to Machine communications between the internet of things to describe a more complex system. It also includes people and processes. The internet of everything is based on the idea that in the future, everything will be connected to each other and internet connections will not be restricted to a handful of devices. Machines will become smarter by having access to data and extended networking opportunities. The actual internet of everything applications includes elements like sensors and interfaces used for remote appliances as well as more intelligent and better-connected mobile devices, industrial machine learning systems, and other types of hardware that have recently become automated.

The internet of things provides a building block for the internet of everything. The internet of everything is going to replace the internet of things as more and more devices are going to get connected with each other and embedded with smart hardware like sensors, and software, including machine learning and artificial intelligence.