UPSC Prelims 2018 Q66: Science & Technology – Computer & Information Technology
- (a) Border Gateway Protocol
- (b) Internet of Things
- (c) Internet Protocol
- (d) Virtual Private Network
Answer: (b) Internet of Things
Explanation
Smart Home Scenario - Which Technology Best Fits?
The scenario describes multiple everyday objects (smartphone alarm triggering geyser, smart mirror showing weather + water level, refrigerator ordering groceries, automatic switch-off of appliances on exit, car providing traffic updates and sending messages) - all communicating and coordinating without direct human intervention.
| Option | Correct? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) | NO | BGP is a routing protocol between internet backbone networks; not about smart devices communicating. |
| (b) Internet of Things (IoT) | YES | IoT is the network of physical objects (appliances, vehicles, sensors) embedded with software and connectivity to exchange data over the Internet, enabling automation and remote control. Textbook match to the scenario. |
| (c) Internet Protocol (IP) | NO | IP is the underlying addressing protocol for Internet packets; too low-level for describing this scenario. |
| (d) Virtual Private Network (VPN) | NO | VPN provides secure tunnels over public networks; unrelated to smart-object automation. |
Answer: (b) Internet of Things.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. BGP is a network routing protocol - it does not describe interconnected smart appliances.
- (b) CORRECT. Internet of Things (IoT) is precisely the paradigm of physical objects communicating over the Internet to automate everyday tasks.
- (c) Incorrect. IP is the low-level addressing protocol; the scenario describes application-layer smart automation, not addressing.
- (d) Incorrect. VPNs create encrypted tunnels for remote access - unrelated to smart-object interconnection.
Key point
IoT = physical objects with sensors + connectivity + software. Enables automation, remote monitoring, data collection. Applications: smart homes, smart cities, industrial IoT (IIoT), wearables, connected vehicles, smart agriculture.
Remember
The described scenario - smartphone triggering geyser, smart mirror showing weather and tank level, refrigerator ordering groceries, appliances switching off on exit, connected car providing traffic updates - is a textbook illustration of the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT refers to the network of physical objects embedded with sensors and connectivity that exchange data and automate tasks over the Internet.
Common mistakes
- Confusing IoT (physical objects networked) with just 'the Internet' (a communication network of computers).
- Assuming any Internet-connected scenario is described by lower-level protocols (BGP, IP) - the scenario is at the IoT paradigm level.
- Missing IoT's key features: sensors, actuators, data exchange, machine-to-machine communication, cloud analytics.
Exam tip
IoT signature: Physical objects + sensors + Internet connectivity + automated actions. Smart home, smart city, wearables, smart factories all fit. If the scenario has interconnected everyday objects, it's IoT.
Sources
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — Draft Internet of Things (IoT) Policy (2015)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — NIST Special Publication 800-183: Networks of "Things" (2016)