Internet of things

Many things can talk to each other.

They use the web to send news. A heater can talk to a phone. This helps your home stay cozy.

Some tools help doctors help you.

A bed can tell if a person gets up. It can also help a person feel better.

Big groups use these tools too. They use them to track trucks and boxes. This helps move things to new lands.

These tools use small parts to work. They can even be made on paper.

It is a big way to connect our world.

The Internet of things, or IoT, connects everyday objects to a network.

These objects have tiny parts like sensors. Sensors help them feel or see things. They also have software, which is a set of rules for computers. This allows objects to share data with other devices over the web.

People use IoT in many ways. At home, you might use a smart thermostat. This device helps control your heat. Smart speakers can also help you. In hospitals, IoT helps doctors. Some beds can tell if a patient is moving. This helps nurses know when to help.

Big companies use IoT too. They use it to track shipping containers. This is one of the biggest uses for the technology. It helps them know where their goods are.

There are some risks to keep in mind. Because these tools talk to each other, they can have privacy issues. This means people must work hard to keep the data safe.

IoT started with simple ideas. In 1982, a soda machine sent data to a computer. Today, the technology is much bigger.

The Internet of things, or IoT, is a way to connect physical objects to a network.

These objects are not just regular items. They have tiny sensors and software inside them. Sensors allow the objects to gather information about the world. The software gives them the ability to process that data. Then, the objects use a network to exchange this data with other devices. This connection allows things to talk to each other and to people. It makes our world much more interactive and smart.

This technology works through a step-by-step way of sharing information. First, a sensor inside an object detects a change. For example, a smart thermostat might sense a drop in temperature. Next, the embedded system processes this information using its software. The device then sends this data over a communication network. This might be the public Internet or a private local network. Once the data arrives, other systems can act on it. This could mean turning on a heater or sending an alert to a phone.

People have been working on these ideas for a long time. In 1972, a computer-controlled vending machine was made at Stanford. It was called Prancing Pony and could sell milk and yogurt. Later, in 1982, students at Carnegie Mellon University connected a Coca-Cola machine to a network. This machine sent its temperature and inventory status to a computer. In 1999, Kevin Ashton coined the term "Internet of things." He believed that radio-frequency identification, or RFID, would help computers manage all things.

Today, IoT is used in many huge ways across the globe. One of the largest uses is in business and industry. Companies use it for asset tracking, which accounts for 22% of the total market. By the end of 2024, there were 5.8 million active devices tracking trailers. There were also 5.3 million devices tracking intermodal containers. In the home, people use smart speakers and lights. In hospitals, the Internet of Medical Things helps doctors. Smart beds can even detect if a patient is trying to get up.

You can think of IoT like a giant web of conversation. Just as you might use a walkie-talkie to talk to a friend, these devices use networks to talk to each other. This helps keep things running smoothly. For instance, a smart home can save energy by turning off lights automatically. It can also help elderly people live more freely with sensors that watch for falls. However, because these devices are all connected, we must be careful about privacy. Governments and companies work to create rules to keep this data safe.

The Internet of Things, often called IoT, refers to physical objects connected to a network. These objects are embedded with sensors, software, and processing abilities. These technologies allow them to exchange data with other devices and systems. This exchange can happen over the public Internet or other communication networks. While many people call it the "Internet of things," some experts consider this a misnomer. Most devices do not actually need the public Internet to work. They only need to be part of a network where they are individually addressable.

The mechanism of IoT relies on a specific chain of digital actions. First, embedded sensors within an object gather data from the physical environment. This data is then handled by the device's processing ability and software. The device converts these physical readings into digital information. Next, the device uses a communication network to transmit this data. This might involve wireless signals or wired connections. Once the data is sent, other connected systems can receive it and react. This allows for automation, where a device acts based on information received from another.

IoT applications are generally categorized into four distinct spaces: consumer, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure. Consumer IoT includes products found in daily life, such as connected vehicles and wearable technology. Home automation is a major part of this, involving smart lighting, heating, and security systems. Commercial and industrial sectors use IoT for much larger tasks. For example, "Enterprise IoT" refers to devices used in corporate settings to manage complex operations. These different sectors use the same core technology but apply it to very different scales of problem-solving.

The history of connected devices began decades ago with experimental machines. In 1972, the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory created the "Prancing Pony." This was a computer-controlled vending machine that could sell milk and yogurt. In 1982, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University built an early network-connected device. They installed sensors in a Coca-Cola vending machine to monitor its temperature and inventory. This machine became the first appliance connected to the ARPANET. Later, in 1991, Mark Weiser introduced the vision of ubiquitous computing. Finally, in 1999, Kevin Ashton coined the specific term "Internet of things." He believed radio-frequency identification, or RFID, would allow computers to manage all individual objects.

Today, the scale of IoT is massive and carries significant economic value. Commercial asset tracking is the largest single application, making up 22% of the total market. This is driven by the need to monitor mobile assets like vehicles and shipping containers. By the end of 2024, there were 5.8 million active devices tracking trailers globally. Additionally, there were 5.3 million devices used for tracking intermodal containers. Cisco Systems estimated that the IoT was "born" between 2008 and 2009. This was the point when the ratio of connected things to people grew from 0.08 in 2003 to 1.84 in 2010.

One of the most impactful examples of IoT is the Internet of Medical Things, or IoMT. This technology creates a digitized healthcare system by connecting medical resources and services. IoMT includes devices like heart rate monitors, pacemakers, and even "smart beds." These beds can detect if a patient is occupied or if they are attempting to get up. A 2015 report from Goldman Sachs suggested that IoMT could save the United States over $300 billion in annual healthcare costs.

In homes, IoT also provides assistive technology for the elderly. Sensors can monitor for medical emergencies, such as falls or seizures, to provide better quality of life.

Despite these benefits, the growth of IoT brings serious challenges regarding privacy and security. Because these devices are interconnected, they are vulnerable to security breaches. The wireless way these devices communicate also creates regulatory ambiguities. This makes it difficult to define which laws apply to data as it moves across different borders. To address these risks, many governments and technology companies have implemented precautionary measures. They are developing international and local standards and regulatory frameworks to minimize safety risks.