Wearable devices. Smart cars with usage-based insurance
systems that report back driving information so some drivers can
obtain lower insurance premiums. Home alarm monitoring systems that
send alerts to your phone. These are all examples of the
"Internet of Things" involving devices or sensors that
connect, communicate, or transmit information with or between each
other through the Internet.
The IoT includes both consumer-facing devices and devices
intended for business uses. By the end of 2015, Cisco has estimated
that there will be 25 billion connected devices, and by 2020, 50
billion.
While the IoT can offer enormous benefits to consumers,
including in the areas of health care (connected medical devices),
improved energy use (smart metres), and safer driving (sensors that
can monitor dangerous road conditions, real-time vehicle
diagnostics, driver alertness and health, enhanced navigation
assistance, location-based services, weather and traffic
information,
