In 1999, British entrepreneur Kevin Ashton coined the term “#InternetofThings” to refer to a system of ubiquitous sensors connecting the Internet to the physical world. Today, the #IoT and #wearabletechnology is a way of life. - http://clapway.com/2015/09/16/the-internet-of-everything-iot123/

In 1999, British entrepreneur Kevin Ashton coined the term “Internet of Things” to refer to a system of ubiquitous sensors connecting the Internet to the physical world. Today, the Internet of Things is a way of life–arguably the only way of life, for many–in every sector from finances and media to education and professional sports.

What Does the Internet of Things (IoT) Look Like?

The Internet of Things, also called the Internet of Everything, is the means by which machines communicate with other machines, so that people can communicate with devices far beyond the ones in their hand. The Internet of Things includes everything from tracking chips on livestock or endangered species, to mobile apps for college freshmen that tell them which washing machines are free in the basement, to technologies that let you activate the security system on your New England home while you’re away in the Caribbean on vacation.

The Internet of Things is not a directionless phenomenon. The increasing interconnectedness of almost every aspect of daily life is expected to result in the automation of anything you could ever want automated. The advent of smartphone technology is only catalyzing the reality of the concept, and wearable technology is about to push it even further. It is no longer far-fetched to imagine a world in which your watch could sense irregularities in the rhythm of your pacemaker, send your vital signs to your doctor’s email address, and call for an ambulance by the time you hit the floor. The same goes for programs that remotely monitor the structural health of bridges and railways or the environmental conditions and energy consumption of factories and wildlife habitats. We already live in that world.

It’s Here and It’s Growing

Any business model of import has already integrated the IoT into its operations, and financial advisors expect the value of the IoT market to jump from $655.8 billion in 2014 to $1.7 trillion in 2020. The FBI has adjusted its understanding of security to account for the IoT, and so has every other relevant player in the security industry, from mall cop offices up to the Pentagon. The IoT is even the subject of debate and dissection from scholarly journals to dive bar bathrooms.

And just as the IoT carries the threat of doing harm to human economic, social, and political systems, it also holds the potential to change the world for the better in a big way. Governments from San Francisco to Singapore are harnessing the IoT for planning and management systems on a scale ranging from city to national levels, using the data flow it enables to monitor everything from air and water quality to transportation efficiency (down to helping citizens search for parking spaces).

Obviously, the Internet of Things is an incredibly powerful human development that requires great caution and responsibility from us as it grows. It may be centuries, if ever, before we truly understand the implications of the changes we’re living. But for now, let’s hope that we’re equipped to make the best of them.

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The Internet of Everything, IoT, is Here to Stay

All the wearable tech, all in one place. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/12/one-stop-wearable-technology-e-commerce-shop-launched-246/

Finally consumers will be able to enjoy a one-stop e-commerce shop for any type of wearable technology product and the Internet of Things.

Founded in 2015, The Wearables Store, has the ambitious mission of offering tech-shopaholics the most innovative products available in the “Wearable and Internet of Things market.”

That’s not all. The company provides potential buyers with the latest news and videos on the tech world’s happenings.

Wearable technology is the future of consumer electronics

The Wearables Store is the brainchild of Philadelphia-based entrepreneur Stephen Spivak, who got the idea of bringing this “completely cutting-edge” technology to consumers under the same e-roof.

As all big electronic companies are gradually developing their own type of wearable technology, Spivak launched his niche site, where he aggregated products ranging from smart watches, to fitness and GPS trackers, to even home accessories. “I was hooked on the concept of how these products could change the world for the better and make our lives easier and safer,” he said.

E-commerce and The Internet of Things

A ‘light-bulb’ went off inside Spivak’s head in 2014, and since then the Wearables Store is growing exponentially. This e-commerce shop should have 80 percent of the hottest wearable technology items by the end of the summer. “Our goal is to offer you the greatest, coolest, and most innovative products in the wearable and Internet of Things marketplace and competitive prices,” Spivak explained.

Encouraging innovation

The website sells consumers products from traditional electronic companies, but also those developed by innovative startups “that you may never have heard from that are just getting to the marketplace”.

According to a report evaluating the future growth of wearable technology, twenty percent of American adults already own a wearable device and the adoption rate is quickly expected to rise — most notably among Millennials.

Future growth of wearable tech

“Businesses must evolve their existing mobile-first strategy to now include the wearable revolution and deliver perceived value to the consumer in an experiential manner,” said Deborah Bothun, PwC’s U.S. advisory entertainment, media & communications leader. “Relevance is the baseline, but then there is a consumer list of requirements to enable interaction with the brand in a mobile and wearable environment.”

PwC’s Consumer Intelligence Series – ‘The Wearable Future report’ – a massive U.S. research project, examined how technological innovation plays an increasingly prominent role in helping brands set themselves apart in their respective industries.

A separate report, titled ‘Health wearables: Early days’, further examined consumers’ attitudes and behaviours toward health wearable technology. Data unveiled that 53 percent of Millennials and 54 percent of early adopters are excited about the future of wearable technology.

They see improved safety, healthier living and simplicity of use as important benefits of wearable technology.

What’s your opinion on wearable technology? Share your comments below.

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One-Stop Wearable Technology E-Commerce Shop Launched

This tech product is going to revolutionize education and the digital learning divide. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/07/micro-bit-teaching-programming-to-1-million-children-in-the-uk-124/

UK-public service broadcaster BBC has revealed the final design of the Micro Bit, a pocket-sized computer set to be given to about one million children for free.

The ultimate aim is to teach digital literacy to the next generation of British programmers. According to the BBC, the microcomputer, should help “tackle the fact children were leaving school knowing how to use computers but not how to program them.”

The Micro Bit will land in schools all across the UK in October, with a free device offered to children around 11-12 years old. The device will help bridging the “growing digital skills gap” in the the country.

Stimulating children’s digital creativity

The broadcaster says it’s hoping to encourage children to focus on the Internet of Things and “be creators of their world”.

Echoing the 1980s Micro computer initiative, the Micro Bit is part of the BBC’s 2015 “Make It Digital” campaign which aims at inspiring children to get creative with digital.

Though some educators expressed concern that technology might affect children, researchers suggest that involving children in digital inventions may aid in kid’s cognitive development and actually create a new generation of tech pioneers.

What’s Micro Bit?

Small in size, and user-friendly, Micro Bit has already been labeled as being the perfect programming device for kids. The technology is the result of the BBC joining hands with 29 partners including Microsoft.

Teaching programming to 1 million children in the UK

Literacy skills have always been considered important, but if in past centuries past, people communicated via pen and paper, digital literacy is now considered ‘as important as reading and writing’.

In the near future, partners will be collaborating closely with teachers and educators over the summer to encore that Micro Bit gets successfully integrated into schools’ curriculum in autumn.

If you are jealous of the fantastic device that British kids are about to get, the good news is that Micro Bit will also go on sale in the United Kingdom and other countries before the end of the year.

For more information on how Micro Bit works, click here.

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Micro Bit: Teaching Programming to 1 Million Children in the UK

The future of our buttons! - http://clapway.com/2015/06/28/smart-buttons-made-in-spain-new-addition-to-the-internet-of-things-234/

Spanish Telefónica has launched a new line of ‘smart buttons’ that are fully functional without other sources of connectivity.

Apparently tapping screens is becoming too laborious for the human race, so companies are coming up with tactile buttons to make everyday activities even easier.

SMART BUTTONS USING CELLULAR NETWORKS

Telefónica has teamed up with several international companies to create new smart buttons for immediate access to their services. What’s interesting is that these smart buttons use cellular networks, not home WiFi, and thus could be placed anywhere in a city or even country.

The devices will eventually be offered on a white-label basis to allow different companies to tailor–make the smart buttons according to their specific needs.

PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

Telefónica first introduced its smart buttons last November, when it started collaborating with Spanish restaurant chain Telepizza. The Click&Pizza service, gave customers the ability to order their favorite pizza at the push of a button.

Shipping company SEUR is now using the button to enable the automatic generation and sending of a package collection order. It will be making these available for customers that use standard services and frequent collection requests.

Similarly, the cab company Cabify will enable its customers to choose the vehicle type and receive details of the car and driver assigned to collect them just by pushing this smart button. If a global SIM is inserted, this new technology could work anywhere in the world, which is why Cabify has plans to expand the service across the Latin American countries in which it operates, including Chile, Mexico and Peru.

Telefónica recently teamed up with the Spanish R&D division of Samsung Electronics to generate innovative technologies.

THE NEW ADDITION TO THE “INTERNET OF THING”

Several other smart buttons initiatives have flooded the market in recent months following Amazon’s Dash Button, used for one-click ordering consumables such as washing powder and printer ink.

Smart buttons represent the newest product added to “The Internet of Things,” which is used to describe approaches, software architectural styles and programming patterns that connect everyday, real-world objects, to the web.

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"Smart Buttons" Made in Spain -- New Addition to The "Internet of Things"