Emerging Technologies: IoT, Cloud, AI and 5G
What this domain tests
Emerging technology questions are definition plus application plus one differentiating feature. Four are named in the syllabus: Internet of Things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and 5G. Blockchain, AR/VR, big data and robotics appear as one-mark identifiers.
Internet of Things
A network of physical devices with sensors, actuators, embedded processors and network connectivity that exchange data without human intervention. Layers: sensing (devices and sensors), network (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, MQTT), processing and cloud storage, application (dashboard or mobile app). Examples: smart irrigation, smart meters, wearable health bands, connected cars. Constraints: battery life, bandwidth and weak device security.
Cloud computing
On-demand delivery of computing resources over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. Service models: IaaS gives virtual machines and storage and you manage the OS upward; PaaS gives a runtime and deployment platform and you manage only the application; SaaS gives a ready application such as webmail. Deployment models: public, private, hybrid and community. Characteristics: on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service.
AI and 5G
AI covers machine learning (learning patterns from data), NLP (language), computer vision (images), expert systems and robotics. 5G offers peak data rates around 20 Gbps, latency near 1 ms, very high device density, and network slicing with the eMBB, URLLC and mMTC service classes.
Worked example
A college wants an attendance app but will not buy servers. It should choose PaaS: the provider supplies the OS, runtime and scaling, while the college writes and deploys only its app code. Choosing IaaS would leave server and OS administration with the college; SaaS would mean adopting someone else's finished product.
Traps
- Calling SaaS software you install on your own PC.
- Treating low latency and high bandwidth as the same 5G feature.
- Describing IoT as 'internet of websites'.
- Assuming AI always requires the cloud; edge devices run models locally.