The rapid advance of connected objects has changed the way we deal with technology on a daily basis. Household appliances, security devices, lighting, home automation… There are numerous new sectors that are starting to use intelligent technologies! If it’s your smartphone that is currently controlling and managing your connected devices, you can now connect them directly to one another! This is exactly what the IFTTT platform offers.
IFTTT… huh?
IFTTT stands for “If This, Then That”. In practice, the idea of the platform is to connect intelligent devices to one another via a simple concept: an action emitted from one device triggers a secondary action on another device, totally handsfree.
In short, the IFTTT platform allows you to create customized programs (called “applets”) that will trigger events based on predefined criteria that result in actions determined by you. No need for a smartphone anymore, everything is done automatically and remotely!
How does the IFTTT platform work?
To fully understand how the IFTTT system operates, let us give you a brief overview of the vocabulary used on the platform.
- The service corresponds to the application or platform from which you would like to have a program (applet) configured. To set this up, you will need to link two services together. It can be, for example, Google, Instagram, Youtube, DropBox, a home automation app, or even a GPS tracker… The sky is the limit!
- The Applet is the program you set up between two services. For it to work, it requires you to set up both triggers and actions. Each service has its own specific triggers and actions.
- The Trigger corresponds to the “This” part of the IFTTT acronym. Basically, these are the elements that will trigger the desired action.
- The Action corresponds to the “That” part of the IFTTT acronym. It is the result obtained from activating the trigger.
For example, an Applet can be illustrated with a statement like “If you like a clip on YouTube (= If This), this will add the song to your Spotify playlist (= Then That)”, with both YouTube and Spotify being the relevant services.
Basically, to program an applet you need to define two services to be linked together, along with a trigger and a final action resulting from that trigger.
What can it be used for?
There is no limit to the way this platform can be used in everyday life, the only real limit is your imagination! The IFTTT platform works in a collaborative way, and everyone is able to suggest and create new applets according to their own needs. New connected objects and applications are born every day, generating an abundance of new opportunities.
Many applet suggestions are available on ifttt.com, don’t hesitate to check out the site for inspiration!
Where does my GPS tracker come into the picture?
Invoxia’s GPS Tracker is far from being left behind! As far as scenarios go for your GPS Tracker, you have three possible triggers: Zone entry, zone exit, and the button press. This allows you to link it to your other connected objects for any type of scenario that includes one of these 3 triggers.
Here are some examples of what IFTTT can do for your GPS Tracker today:
- Whenever a car leaves the “garage” zone, an alarm goes off automatically.
- Whenever you enter the home “zone” after work, the lights, music, and thermostat turn on.
- If your child leaves school or any other predetermined security zone, you can be set up to receive emails when this happens.In case of emergency, an alarm button allows them to share their location with other account users.
With IFTTT, the possibilities of turning your GPS tracker into a real personal assistant are endless! What’s even better is that not all applications have been discovered yet, so you can develop new programs as you see fit, and unleashing your creativity.
For direct access to the Inoxia Service on IFTTT, click here.
And if you need inspiration, check out our user testimonials!
