5 Ways in Which IoT is Altering the Future of Mobile App Development
The penetration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into our rooms, virtually interacting with every facet of our lives from monitoring food expiry dates in our refrigerators to sensing our energy consumptions, resembles a live-streaming sci-fi plot.
Advanced, interconnected gadgets coupled to our smartphones via ingenious apps present an alternate way of living, handing down a greater degree of control, comfort and safety. While futurist virtual assistants and smart gadgets are admirable for their prowess, what deserves more appreciation is the infrastructure beneath – the mobile apps that power this ecosystem.
For app developers, the IoT boom offers dramatic opportunities to push the envelope, even shaping up the future of mobile app development. At the same time, a host of challenges also spring up with the proliferation of connected devices.
New Development Challenges in the IoT
The IoT burst could put billions of connected devices in the ecosystem over the next few years. Scaling of app development infrastructure and processes to meet the humongous requirements is the primary hurdle. But an even bigger challenge is to develop apps for a highly diverse range of devices, which would encompass anything and everything from consumer electronics to automotive systems to sensor arrays.
How to address the lifecycle needs of deployed applications with the conventional, outdated model is another question. The existing suite of operating system components, drivers, and toolchains calls for a tech revamp to be able to support the diversity of application developers.
As the old adage goes, necessity is the mother of invention. The same applies to the world of mobile application development. Here are five ways in which the challenges presented by the IoT boom are altering Mobile Application Development Trends globally.
Focus Shifts From App’s Function to Device’s Function
Conventionally, app developers begin with a question – what’s the function of the app. But the rise and advance of IoT is certain to change the query to – what’s the function of the device. While this shift apparently seems a marginal one, it implies the developers need to be familiar with the technology of the “thing” itself to be able to build an app that could seamlessly connect the physical and digital worlds.
New Modes of Connectivity
Traditional apps pair up with devices via cellular service, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, but that may not be sufficient in the future. As already pointed out, a diverse set of “things,” including high-tech sensors, electronics, etc. will burst onto the scene and may have their own connection protocols. As such, the mobile app development looks on course to hunt for novel, innovative means for pairing IoTs with applications.
Open Source Development to Gain Traction
Open Source Development is another trend that’s certain to gain traction with the burst of IoTs. We might see software giants and information technologists sharing more and more programs online, facilitating budding developers to build their own apps blurring the lines between physical and digital. A number of Mobile App Development Services Company in India are up for the task and have already rolled out handy open source programs.
Non Traditional Hybrid Apps
Traditional apps are built on a single platform and are incompatible with devices with a different platform. This could be a major put off in a world dominated by IoTs, so the developers might push for hybrid applications, letting users interact with entire gamut of multi-platform devices.
New platforms & Niche Development to Pick Steam
IoT is still in its nascent stages and app developers in the process of adapting to it. Lack of platforms for IoT apps prompts technologists to create new ones from scratch, a practice that will pick steam in near future. Also, with the emergence of a unified IoT platform, the app developers who build mobile apps across all platforms from Android to iOS will concentrate primarily on the niche platform.
Mobile app developers need to buckle up for a world run by an enormous set of IoT devices and try to ramp up their efforts for delivering products with customization across simulated or physical devices.
More importantly, collaboration between IoT product teams and app developers will be of great importance. Existing processes should be adapted and prepared for extending full lifecycle support as a majority of IoTs will be powered by artificial intelligence technology for automated learning in future.
We hope you enjoyed the above post in cooperation with Socialnomics!
Anurag Gupta is a budding entrepreneur with stakes in WeblinkIndia.net, an acclaimed Web Designing & Development Company, headquartered in India. He also happens to be a keen writer, sharing insights, tips, and tutorials on subjects related to the ever evolving landscape of Web Designing and Development.
