Exploring the Evolution of IoT through Gartner Hype Cycle
The Internet of Things (IoT) has become an essential part of modern life. It refers to the interconnected network of smart devices that can communicate and share data with each other without human intervention. Over the years, IoT has evolved significantly from its early days as a buzzword to become an integral part of our daily lives. To understand the evolution of IoT, it is crucial to explore Gartner’s Hype Cycle.
What is Gartner Hype Cycle?
Gartner Hype Cycle is a graphical representation of the maturity, adoption, and social application of specific technologies. It was designed by the independent research firm Gartner to help businesses understand the life cycle of emerging technologies and their potential impact on society. The Hype Cycle consists of five stages: innovation trigger, peak of inflated expectations, trough of disillusionment, slope of enlightenment, and plateau of productivity.
The Evolution of IoT through Gartner Hype Cycle
The IoT was introduced as an emerging technology in Gartner’s Hype Cycle back in 2011, under the innovation trigger phase. At this stage, the technology was considered new and exciting, but its full potential was yet to be realized. Early adopters were the only ones experimenting with IoT, and its impact on society was unclear.
By 2014, IoT had reached the peak of inflated expectations. The hype around the technology was at an all-time high, and people were starting to see the potential impact of IoT on various industries. Businesses were investing heavily in IoT technology, and startups were popping up left and right to take advantage of the trend. Unfortunately, many of these early adopters were not successful in implementing IoT, leading to the trough of disillusionment.
From 2015 to 2019, IoT was in the slope of enlightenment phase. During this period, businesses and consumers started to understand the true potential of IoT. Successful implementations of IoT technology in various industries were convincing people of its long-term value. As a result, IoT adoption started to increase, and the technology became more mainstream.
Today, IoT has entered the plateau of productivity phase, where it has become an essential part of our daily lives. From smart home devices to industrial IoT applications, there is hardly a sector that hasn’t been impacted by this technology. According to Statista, the number of IoT devices is estimated to reach 75 billion by 2025, a testament to the technology’s success.
Key Takeaways
The evolution of IoT is a prime example of Gartner’s Hype Cycle in action. It started as an emerging technology with a lot of potential, reached the peak of hype, went through a period of disillusionment, and finally found its way to mainstream adoption. Today, IoT has become an integral part of modern life, and its full potential is yet to be realized. As technology continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how IoT shapes our future.
