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Because technology has changed so much over recent years, and owing to its constant evolution, there has been a lot of talk about digitizing the real world. Technology and connectivity have made it possible to communicate without the direct involvement of a human being (Sairam et al., 2019). The Internet of Things (IoT)—a phenomena that has gained popularity since its inception in 2009—has become a crucial component in real-life applications, and is now recognised as providing a foundation of connectedness (Sharma et al., 2021).
By allowing data to be shared online and users to communicate with one another as well as with other IoT-enabled devices, the Internet of Things transforms commonplace objects into “smarter” ones (Din et al., 2019). The Internet of Things is not simply limited to common objects in the home or workplace; rather, healthcare, the environment, economics, transportation, management, and security are all affected, with permeation even witnessed in the case of smart cities (Suraki & Jahanshahi, 2021). By delivering tools, it is possible for real and digital worlds to be integrated quicker and with a greater degree of precision and efficiency (Hatamian, 2021). The overall aim of IoT is to establish an independent, self-governing connection that is capable of securing and facilitating data exchange among real-world physical internet-connected devices and real applications (Chopra et al., 2019). Therefore, as seen in Figure 1, the Internet of Things establishes a connection between the virtual world and actual physical applications and activities.
Figure 1. IoT connect physical and virtual worlds
There are many different types of devices, sectors, and environments in which IoT is used. IoT is quickly making the world smarter by linking the real and the digital—from smart whiteboards in schools to medical sensors that may detect indications of heart disease. According to the global research platform IoT Analytics, the number of IoT-connected devices increased by 8% in 2021 and is expected to soar by another 22% through 2025, hitting 27 billion units (Engin et al., 2019). The Internet of Things has applications in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, and retail (Garcia-Perez et al., 2020).
The Internet of Things is best demonstrated by the linked “smart home” (Garcia-Perez et al., 2020). Users may remotely control various devices in the property via a smartphone app or website, all thanks to internet-enabled thermostats, smoke detectors, and security alarms, for example, that create a linked hub where data is exchanged across physical devices (Kour & Arora, 2020; Khan et al., 2020). The main focus of this paper centers on the designing of a proposed framework of IoT in the public sector so as to understand the ability of IoT in improving the various elements of the public sector, as well as the limitations of applying IoT. Therefore, the study question is focused on developing a conceptual framework of using IoT in public sectors. As a result, the following question forms the basis of the research: