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History of IoT
The history of the Internet of Things (IoT) is a fascinating tale of technological breakthroughs and visionary
ideas, stretching back over a century. Here’s how this revolutionary concept evolved:
The birth of wireless networks laid the groundwork
1970s for IoT technologies, introducing the possibility of
connecting devices without physical cables.
The launch of the first commercial cellular
networks unlocked new horizons for mobile 1980s
devices and wireless data sharing.
A group of ingenious students at Carnegie Mellon
University created one of the earliest connected devices:
1982 a Coca-Cola vending machine that could report on its
inventory and whether the drinks were cold!
John Romkey demonstrates the first 1990
Internet-controlled toaster.
British tech visionary Kevin Ashton coined the
term "Internet of Things." His groundbreaking idea
1999 involved using RFID chips to track products across
supply chains, igniting the modern IoT movement.
LG made headlines by announcing the world’s
first smart refrigerator, a precursor to today’s 2000
connected appliances.
2007 Apple launched the iPhone!
A pivotal year—for the first time, the number of
connected devices surpassed the global human 2008
population, signalling a new era of connectivity.
Google embarked on testing driverless cars,
2009 showcasing the potential of IoT in revolutionising
transportation.
Smart TV 2011
Switzerland took bold steps toward sustainable
2012 urban living with the "Smart City Switzerland"
pilot program led by its Federal Office of Energy.
Google introduced Google Lens, enabling visual
recognition through IoT, allowing users to interact 2013
with the physical world using their smartphone
camera. Amazon Echo revolutionised smart homes with
2014 voice-controlled IoT devices, creating a hands-
Tesla's Autopilot showcased semi-autonomous driving, free experience for managing everyday tasks.
highlighting IoT's impact on transportation by allowing 2015
vehicles to navigate with minimal human input and
improve over time with software updates. With the rollout of 5G networks, IoT is entering
2020s an unprecedented phase of growth. Ultra-fast
connectivity is fueling innovative applications,
from smart cities to autonomous vehicles.
Advantages of IoT
From vending machines to driverless cars and smart cities, the journey of IoT reflects humanity’s relentless
pursuit of innovation. Each milestone underscores how far we’ve come in making the world more connected
and intelligent.
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