The term “Internet of Things” (IoT), referring to a network of items which are embedded with sensors and connected to the internet, was coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999. A connected device can share its data with other similar devices and create a vast system of personal data that can change our everyday lives.
Here are five facts you should know about the Internet of Things:
(1) In 2008, the number of internet-connected things exceeded the number of the world’s population. With 25 billion connected devices compared to 7.2 billion people, there are approximately 3.5 connected items per person on Earth. Wow!
(2) There is big business value in the Internet of Things, as valuations of the have been reported at approximately $19 trillion over the next five years. Although some argue these estimations are excessive, the industry is still poised for major growth, reaching at least $10 trillion in that timeframe.
(3) 
A device needs seven key features in order to be considered a connected item, including sensors, internet connectivity and processors, which all exist in today’s smartphones. Connected devices also require energy efficiency, quality and reliability, security and cost effectiveness; these features differentiate Internet of Things devices from regular smartphones.
(4) The term “Internet of Things” can refer to industrial or consumer usage. For consumers, the technology is most popular for fitness monitoring, which allows users to track their body’s activity by embedding sensors in a wearable device and then downloading its data to a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Industrial usage will include smart cities which can track public buses using sensors, robotic hospital systems for deliveries and sterilization, and sensors embedded in prisons to track detained persons.
(5) Today, connecting your phone and computer to the internet seems perfectly natural, but how can you connect a couch to the internet? This is made possible by web objects based on a technology called RFID, which are small chips that identify radio frequency. A chip can be as thin as a stamp or tiny like a grain of rice, so it is easy to connect to almost any object imaginable.
The revolution has already started and Humavox is happy to be a part of it. Visit our website to learn more about Humavox wireless charging technology and its impact on the Internet of Things experience of both users and developers.
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