By now I think we all realize how much the INTERNET has become part of our daily lives. It’s become an “expectation”, the “standard” from which we gather information or even run our businesses. But what is the Internet of Things?
Control Household Appliances From Your Phone.
We use the internet to read, to shop, to play and to work. The phrase “let me Google it", has become an indicator of how we react now that we can instantaneously look up something we don’t know and moments later become experts on the subject. Knowledge, as well as opinions flow rapidly.
The “INTERNET” as we know it, first became a reality in 1969. It was a total of 4 computers “talking” to each other. Take an “average” 2015 American family with teenagers and you will probably find more than 4 connected devices in their home.
Turn Your Front Porch Light On Before You Get Home.
We use our wireless networks to connect our computers, our printers, and our phones. How many other devices do you have in your home that can be connected?
For all practical purposes, the Internet of Things began in 1982, when a Coke machine became the first internet connected appliance. The machine was able to report it’s inventory as well as the temperature of newly loaded drinks. Now we have devices that can turn on and off our home or business lighting, light a fireplace, unlock out the garage door, track our cars and children, and even help with our grocery shopping by checking our current refrigerator inventory.
Start Your Fireplace From Work!
It is estimated that by 2020 there will be between 26 and 30 billion devices, from transportation to medical devices to home appliances, connected to the "IoT". Phones and “wearable” devices will become our control centers, enabling us to turn on our front door lights, light the living room fireplace, and start a cup of coffee while we are still blocks away from home on our evening jog.
Each of these devices will obviously need an IP address. Currently the standard for IP addressing is IPv4 which only allows 4.3 billion unique numbers. IPv6 has been working it’s wat into reality for years and will need to become the new standard to support the growing need for additional IP addresses.
