Today, when going to retails in large cities, we find large amounts of appliances with unthinkable gadgets, such as refrigerators. When carefully analyzing them, consumers find functionalities that may save efforts and time in their daily routines.

An example would be the added-value provided to users when monitoring the amount of food inside, their date of expiry and even placing an order on the telephone for more supplies. A utopia? Maybe, yes. This is possible because of the implementation of the concept of the Internet of Things.

Many people are unaware of its meaning. However, it is briefly defined as follows: the Internet of Things is a system that interconnects information devices, digital and mechanical machines, objects, animals or people to single identifications and to the data transmission capacity through the Internet, without human intervention being required.

This may sound simple but, what is the origin of this technology trend?

The idea of “the Internet of Things” was born in 1999, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where the radio frequency identification system (RFID) has long been the object of research. This system connects objects allowing for the exchange of data and technology through sensors. It is a network that interconnects objects through the Internet, providing real-time information. This is hard to believe but it is true

A convincing fact!: according to a study conducted by Gartner, a research firm, 50,000 million connected devices and about seven devices per capita are estimated for 2020, providing smart services and apps.

This study also estimated that 6,400 million “connected” devices will be in used this year and in 2014. There could be –the firm has explained– over 500 smart devices in a single household in 2022.

Telecommunications Industry and Internet of Things

The Internet of Things application is tangible when comparing product built-in functionalities offered by the industry giants such as LG, Samsung, Google TV Mediaroom de Microsoft and Panasonic.

In this regard, I have found a very illustrative study conducted by Murad Yusufov from the Yaroslavl State University, named Roles of Smart TV in Internet of Things, which analyzes five characteristics to be met by different devices to cause interaction and be framed under the definition of the Internet of Things:

 Data storage: TVs enable access to their data from other devices.

Source of visualization: a device should be able to visually display data.

Points of interaction: a device interacts with the user interface.

Data processors: classification of data from other devices.

Source of data: provision of various kinds of data; such as video, audio, temperature.

The table below shows the results of this research:

This kind of tests will allow, in the near future, for all devices in and outside our homes to figure out our lives. Therefore, within a few years, when you turn your TV on, it will suggest shows related to your Google searches; your refrigerator will let you know where to find your favorite beer brand; or your car will suggest an engine additive according to your driving style.

---