It's having everything connected to the Internet. I was impressed by this the other day when a vending machine allowed me to swipe my debit card for a drink. I also flew on a plane a few weeks ago that allows you to swipe a card for movies, cable TV, music, flight maps, etc. Everything is attaching itself to the web, becoming sensitive to wireless signals that can provide it with information. Everything is becoming "smart". The bad news is that everything will also become hackable, as debit card machines in stores are now proving to be. Here's one thing you should know to start: "The Internet of Things is really the Internet of Everything," says Ron Hale, acting CEO of the IT industry association ISACA. "Everything will be connected to the network." Yes, even your Espresso maker may soon pack IoT functionality. Of course a lot of devices already are connected, but as Diego Tamburini, a technology futurist with Autodesk, points out, "what's new with the Internet of Things is that the number and the type and the nature of devices that we're connecting to the Internet are skyrocketing. This is enabling scenarios that we hadn't even thought of before," he says. As it expands, IoT is going well beyond current connected devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones to incorporate everything from fitness devices to machines on the plant floor to fashion and just about anything else. "I don't know of an industry that is not taking advantage of connected devices," says Scott Hublou, co-founder of the home energy service company EcoFactor. This growth, Hale says, will provide new ways for high-tech employees to put their skills to use in sensors, batteries, software and data science, to name just a few important areas of need in IoT. "This drives tremendous career opportunities not only for cybersecurity professionals but for engineers, coders, and architects who understand the potential risks and who can collaborate with others in the design of systems that not only deliver benefits but do so in a responsible manner considering threats to personal information protection and the compromise of systems." - See more at: http://www.todaysengineer.org/2014/Apr/career-focus.asp#sthash.9q4N1qvr.dpuf
Well more than 3 billion people have no connection. That will change about a decade from now, but the process of change may kill the original internet, you are praising. Google just joined Musk (paying a billion dollars to him for a 10% share of what is very like the biggest "next big thing.") Read more here: http://www.sciforums.com/threads/musks-ideas-for-new-internet-distribution-system.144208/
Japanese had this tech decade ago already and haven't had any problems with hackers stealing anyone's info,maybe their populace is more honest then ours.. or maybe it's not worth stealing those few bucks people have on their devices
