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Internet of Things is reaching buzzword status and we all know what happens to concepts once they become buzzwords: they attain deity like recognition. Meaning, most of us will go all in and miscontrue what the idea is truly capable of. Gartner's Hype Cycle expresses this well and is my favorite piece of data visualization thus far.
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For those of you who don't know, Internet of Things (IoT) is essentially the network upon which objects can communicate. Practically speaking, what would your plant say if it could talk? More water please! (sensors in the soil to detect moisture). Cars are starting to communicate a little more coherently now too with apps like Strados coming out to translate the slew of data it produces. In a nutshell, hardware and software are making sweet music together and it's empowering us to make more informed decisions.
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So how do we involve ourselves with IoT in a healthy way?
For starters, you can crash the MonkeyBars produced IoT World Forum Hackathon at 1871. There will be new technology, specifically designed for IoT, from Cisco present as well as top minds in the field to guide you. Among the many prizes, the top idea will be presented by the CTO of Cisco at the exclusive, invite only IoT World Forum. Whether you're planning to build something or not, this is a great opportunity to learn about IoT.
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If you're looking for a more casual way to get involved, there is a meetup group specifically for IoT: Internet of Things Chicago Meetup group.
I am by no means an IoT expert but I know a bunch of people who know these things; I'm happy to answer questions and be a facilitator. Reach out via [email protected]
