When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day’s weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When you step out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to office, your car warns you about traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a message to your office accordingly.

In the context of emerging communication technologies, which one of the following terms best applies to the above scenario?

The correct option is Internet of Things.

Explanation:

The scenario described involves several everyday physical objects—such as a smartphone alarm, water geyser, smart mirror, overhead water tank, refrigerator, door lock, lighting/cooling appliances, and an automated car—that are connected to each other and the internet.

These devices collect data, communicate with one another, and perform automated actions without requiring direct human intervention (for example, switching on the geyser when the alarm is tapped, ordering groceries when stock is low, turning off home appliances when the door is locked, and sending traffic updates/messages automatically).

The network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity to exchange data and automate tasks is defined as the Internet of Things (IoT).

Why other options are incorrect:

• Border Gateway Protocol (BGP): A standardized exterior gateway protocol designed to exchange routing and reachability information among autonomous systems on the Internet.

• Internet Protocol (IP): The principal communications protocol in the Internet protocol suite for relaying datagrams across network boundaries using IP addresses.

• Virtual Private Network (VPN): A service that creates a safe, encrypted connection over a public network (like the Internet) to protect user privacy and data security.