Introduction and Overview of Key Enabling Technologies for Smart Cities and Homes

The Internet has come a long way in the previous three decades. It began as a content-sharing platform for early websites, portals, and search engines. With the globalization of Internet users, the importance and diversity of Internet material have increased; the Internet is increasingly connecting people rather than just connecting information. Other services, such as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video chat, as well as social networks, have enabled the social web. The end-user has changed as a result of the shift from information consumers to contributors and producers. This trend has accelerated with the introduction of smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Smartphones have ushered in a new era of communication, in addition to data. End-users may access information from wherever they need to connect with their environment for basic everyday activities thanks to a new type of communication. Cabs may be summoned in large cities by pressing a button on a mobile device and using an app like Uber. The Internet connects things, dwellings, cities, and everything else that can be linked, with early information associated with individuals and later users engaging with other users via the social Web. As a result, a smart platform with a wide range of smart services emerges. This chapter examines the growing trend of connecting things and the issues they provide in the context of smart homes and cities, as well as a summary of key technological capabilities.

Keywords: Internet of things (IoT), ICT, Information and communications technology (ICT), SCDs (smart city departments), Smart homes, Smart cities, Smart governance, Smart economy, Smart obility, Smart grid, Security, Wireless power transfer (WPT).