Author: kgift

Did You Know That the University Has Already Deployed Internet of Things Devices?

YES!   The name “IoT” dates back to the late 1990s when Kevin Ashton proposed that an Internet of Things would be created by the expanding use of RFID tags.  Machines would read these tags and communicate directly with each other without human intervention.  Given the broad definition that IoT has, one would include the following University systems as IoT:

  1. Fire detection and fire alarm systems
  2. Building Monitoring and Control Systems
  3. CoGen Plant Monitoring and Control Systems (Power Generation)
  4. Electronic Door Access

Welcome to the Internet of Things at Princeton University!

This site is dedicated to both educate and solicit information about the Internet of Things (IoT) at Princeton University.

Internet of things (IoT) devices can provide useful conveniences – or simply cool features.  IoT devices are small computers. Some devices only collect data, while others also process, control, and communicate data to on-premise or cloud-hosted applications.The data collected/transmitted/stored by IoT computers is useful for many everyday needs: cameras to collect video images, microphones that record audio sound, GPS to determine location, and environmental sensors to measure motion, temperature, light, and moisture. Wearable IoT devices, such as smart watches, use physiological sensors to monitor your heart, sleep, and other body systems.

Currently the University utilizes IoT devices in various ways, including: to improve efficiency and sustainability by regulating room environmental and lighting controls; we monitor building air and water quality with IoT sensors; and we use sensors to manage people density in classrooms for COVID-19 physical distancing. Innovation and imagination continuously offer myriad new ways to use IoT on a daily basis on our campus. (add: support contact information)

IoT devices require a communications network to transmit (or receive) their data. At Princeton, IoT devices need to be registered so that they may be assigned a valid University IP address. These registrations should also reflect the type of IoT device that is being registered.