5 free online courses to learn IoT (Internet of Things) in 2023
Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the new generation digital technologies with significant impact in multiple sectors, from industry to agriculture, health, and energy. IoT creates new business opportunities and is changing the way companies, industries, administrations, and also people, interact with the world.
An IoT device is one that has the ability to capture or generate data (for example, a temperature sensor) and has internet connectivity to transfer that information. In this way, IoT allows capturing, processing, and exchanging information efficiently and effectively.
Among other applications, IoT allows monitoring and optimizing from traffic to resources such as energy, water, or people's health, and is enabling the development of smart cities, autonomous vehicles, precision agriculture, or smart industry, among many other possibilities.
Today, knowing the principles of IoT technology is essential for both students and professionals in the technology sector.
But how to get started in IoT technology? Where to begin?
In this post, we compile a selection of free and online courses that you can follow at your own pace to learn about this technology. Knowing IoT technology not only opens up new professional opportunities, but also allows understanding how technology works and how it influences people's lives and the environment.
- Introduction to the Internet of Things IoT (Curtin University): This free course (with the option to acquire a certification) explores the IoT concept and physical devices ('things') that make the Internet of Things possible, including how components communicate with each other, how to extract value from the data they generate, and some considerations related to IoT Cybersecurity and privacy. Requires 1.5 months dedicating 2-3 hours per week.
- Introduction to the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems: This 11-hour course, offered by the University of California and available on Coursera, is part of a specialized program 'An Introduction to Programming the Internet of Things (IoT)', which consists of a total of 6 courses with level advances. This first course explains the role of IoT, what are the most common devices, and trends for the future. It also deals with topics related to the components, both software and hardware of the devices, and their interface with the physical world. Finally, the key components of interconnection are explained.
- Introduction to IoT (Cisco Networking Academy): This free course (optional certification) of 20 hours addresses how digital transformation is creating economic opportunities and how IoT is changing the way companies operate and manage their processes and systems, without forgetting the Cybersecurity considerations that must be addressed when implementing IoT solutions.
- AWS IoT: Developing and Deploying an Internet of Things: Free (optional certification). 4 weeks. This Amazon (AWS) course covers general content such as "What is the Internet of Things and how does it work?" to more specific content about AWS services. To take this course, it is recommended to have at least one year of software development experience and basic knowledge of AWS services and console.
- Introduction to Azure IoT: This course is the first module of the Microsoft Certified AI Edge engineer. The first course in the program provides an introduction to the different services that can be condivd in Azure to design large-scale IoT solutions. All modules and courses are available for free on Microsoft Learn, excluding the certification.
Conclusion
It's worth noting that, except for some cases, most of these courses are introductory. However, they provide knowledge of this technology and its components and practical applications.
In addition, they cover topics such as network architecture, sensors, embedded systems, communication protocols, security and privacy measures, data analysis tools, cloud platforms, and an overview of Artificial Intelligence algorithms.
One advantage is that they are free (except for certification, which is usually optional and requires a fee) and open to anyone interested. They are also self-paced, allowing them to be completed at one's own pace.
The use of IoT will continue to grow in the coming years with the adoption of an increasing number of IoT devices in all types of sectors and industries, homes and businesses, and cities.
Overall, these types of courses are an excellent way to acquire new skills and knowledge in a short amount of time, in just a few days or weeks.
These courses also serve as a complement to other related technologies, such as Cloud and Edge Computing, 5G and NB-IoT connectivity, Big Data and data analysis, Artificial Intelligence and machine learning models, industrial automation technologies, smart city infrastructures, etc.
Any of these courses is an excellent option to take the first steps in IoT.
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