

Connect the World
Chances are, you know someone with a device
that connects, communicates, or controls another
product. Within the past five years, a number
of home and consumer products are in some
way connected to the Internet or connected to a
device, such as your smartphone. Welcome to the
revolution of the Internet of Things, or IoT, as it is
most commonly referred.
IoT devices are classified as any device with an
on-off switch that is either connected directly to
the Internet or to a device that is connected to the
Internet. Common home examples include smart
door locks or thermostats. Both can connect to
your home WiFi, communicate and be controlled
by a computer or cellphone app. Now you can have
the functionality to lock or unlock your door and
raise and lower your home temperature remotely.
IoT devices can have sensors that send feedback
to a cloud based service, provide a second screen
to show notifications such as text messages, or
be turned on and off according to a schedule. A
common example for sensors is your thermostat
automatically setting an
Away from Home
status
when it senses no one is home.
Some IoT devices allow you to control other
gadgets with just your voice. One such device of
this type is the Amazon Echo, which connects to
your other smart devices, such as Phillips Hue
lightbulbs. Did you forget to turn down the lights
when watching your movie? All from the ease of
your recliner, with your voiced instructions to an
Amazon Echo, you can dim, turn on or off your
lights.
Amazon Button
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