The Internet of Things devices and sensors surround us everywhere today – even if we’re not aware of it. Naturally, many of them include displays that allow easy operation by users. For some IoT applications, we can even refer to specific standards – for example, wearable devices often use OLED displays.
In this article, we explore 3 examples of IoT devices to show you which display technologies are most often, such as smart buildings, industrial applications, and retail products. This will show you which display technologies are most often chosen for the innovative Internet of Things.
What is IoT?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a wired or wireless network used for connecting devices that work autonomously to collect, share, and process data. These devices can also interact with their surroundings on the basis of that data, and – most importantly – they don’t require any type of human interaction to operate.
You can find IoT devices in practically every industry – from manufacturing and transportation to agriculture and medicine. Smart buildings are an excellent use case for IoT – such devices installed to control the thermostat and various functions like shutting and opening the blinds.
The rise of the Internet of Things – a market snapshot
According to IDC, IoT is definitely on the rise. In 2020, consumers bought 444.7 million wearable devices, and the year-to-year growth of this market reached 28.4%. These wearables are, for example, smartwatches that can synchronize with a smartphone but also offer different functions such as cashless payment.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to the rise of telemedicine and the requirement for constant monitoring of the patient’s health, increasing the demand for healthcare-related wearable devices.
Display choices for IoT applications
Smart buildings
Since they bring comfort and functionality to our homes, IoT devices are today commonly found in households. Some common examples are cleaning robots, and central heating management systems used to regulate temperature levels in each room from a user’s smartphone.
Most of the time, users need to manage the parameters of such devices through control panels that need to be ergonomic but also look great. That’s why many companies that build IoT devices use LCD TFT displays for such applications. The market is full of ready-to-use models such as 5-inch RVT50AQEFWC00 in our offer.
Industry applications
IoT devices are all now commonly used across different industries. An example of such a device is a portable measuring device that gathers data in real-time into a central database. However, industry applications tend to be quite demanding – if these devices are set to operate in production facilities, they might be exposed to different adverse factors such as vibrations, shakes, low and high temperatures, dust and water, or interferences.
A good display choice for a portable measuring device is a monochromatic OLED display that offers excellent readability of content in both light and dark environments. The viewing direction doesn’t matter at all, so they offer good usability in production settings. They can be used in a wide range of temperatures and operate well between -42 and 80 °C.
However, suppose a portable measuring device will be used to present complex data such as figures or diagrams. In that case, the LCD TFT display is a great choice as long as the parameters are properly adjusted. To offer extra protection against dust or moisture, it’s possible to place the electronics in enclosures of the right tightness. For example, the IP65 standard is dustproof and partially waterproof.
Retail applications
In the retail industry, some of the most popular IoT solutions are monitoring systems used to monitor not only the shop space but also customer behaviors. The data gathered by the monitoring system allows retailers to optimize product arrangements or translates into instructions for helping customers to navigate their store.
Another common IoT solution in retail is electronic price tags – based on electronic paper solutions. By using electronic information carriers, companies can automate content management. You can change the prices and text at any time – all it takes is one click is in the central content management system. There’s no need to engage any employees anymore, leading to greater efficiencies.
These solutions can be applied in intensely lighted retail spaces and ensure excellent readability of the content that can be seen from any direction. Electronic price tags are also energy-efficient and need only a little power while the image is changing (the solution can be powered by a battery supply).
Wrap up
These solutions represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Internet of Things applications and the displays they use. Naturally, IoT is a growing area that offers plenty of room for experimentation, and manufacturers are constantly looking for more energy-efficient display options that deliver an optimal user experience.
If you’re looking for a reliable provider of displays for IoT applications, get in touch with us. At Melrose Systems, we have supported numerous clients in such projects and can share case studies with you. You can be sure that our experts can support you in the most demanding IoT application development process.
Post a comment