When Everyday Objects Become Internet Devices: A Science Policy Agenda

The Internet is being transformed from a system that connects people to information and services, into one that connects people to everyday objects from cars to toothbrushes. A recent McKinsey report estimates the economic impact of this “Internet of Things” (IoT) will be between $3.9 to $11 trillion dollars by 2025. IoT will have a profound impact on our daily lives, including technologies for “smart” cities and our homes, health, and transportation. Advances in sensors and hardware have enabled computers to more easily observe the physical world. These devices can monitor the physical environment and connect Internet servers with physical places and objects. This panel will enumerate science policy challenges tied to the emerging interrelationships between computation, people, and the physical world. Speakers will describe how people make sense of computational objects and look at the development and programming of IoT systems to explore critical issues in security, liability, and longevity, discussing how these technologies have the potential to shape future smart environments from homes to cities.