Our planet has turned into an electronically controlled ball of energy. There is a lot of hype over the Internet of Things (IoT) in the technology-oriented world today. Let's just step back in time, say about a decade ago when the Internet of Things was as anonymous as the iPhone. And now suddenly it is all over the place and news.

So how was IoT created?

This was done in 1999 by Kevin Ashton. In accordance, it is an internet system that connects to the world through sensors and data storage. How the Internet and the devices connected to it has grown over the past is evident from the fact that in 2003 the ratio of Internet-connected devices to the people was 500 million Internet-connected devices for 6.3 billion people in the world with approximately 0.08 devices per person. 

This meteoric rise rapidly, and in 2010 the ratio was 12.5 billion Internet-connected devices to 6.8 billion people in the world with about 1.84 devices per person. You can find the rest of the information about IoT and IoT development at IoT SENSORS.

How do you classify the device under IoT?

Not all electronic gadgets can be classified as the Internet of Things. Devices such as a toaster or refrigerator can not be part of the IoT unless they have seven key features that are mainly: sensors, processors, internet connectivity, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, quality and safety.

Future plans are to make household appliances such as lights, doors, and a washing machine, as a part of the IoT. This equipment can not be replaced very often when compared with our cell phone which makes them very attractive to change. Giving the household appliances sensors and connectivity means providing them with a brain of their own and hence the devices will be able to perform functions automatically without external stimulus at different junctures.