What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?

The Internet of Things references a huge development leap in technology. Essentially it allows everyday objects to connect and communicate with ourselves and each other.

Wikipedia sums it up quite nicely; the Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to “…the internetworking of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items – often referred to as Smart Devices or Connected Devices, which are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data.”

The Internet of Things isn’t actually a THING the way it is made to sound. It’s an expression used to describe, as. “the expanding network of interconnected internet-enabled devices”. It is also sometimes referred to as Machine to Machine (M2M) which fits much better.

What is the Internet of Things used for?

Have you seen the references to controlled ‘smart’ homes? Controlling the heating and lighting in your home from a connected device such as your phone, so you don’t have to come home to a cold house, or have to turn around at the start of a journey because you think you’ve left a light on. Smart fridges and appliances are becoming commonplace, Samsung have launched a Wi-Fi-enabled model with its own built-in touch screen, so you can order your groceries from your fridge.

Now, these are just some of the things that are out there already, available to buy and not uncommon. But this new technology is absolutely not limited to the home. It is within the workplace that the IoT is going to make a huge difference to the way we go about our daily lives. Whether a factory, bank, office, you name it, the smart devices that connect to the IoT will become permanent fixtures.