First the Internet of Dumb Things and only then the Internet of Smart Things

We are going to quickly connect lots of things that were never intended to be connected to the Internet, to the Internet.

In essence, the phrase “Internet of Things” essentially describes a network of connected objects other than computers, tablets, and mobile devices that for the most part were never designed for the Internet.

As I furthered my studies and experiments with the Internet of Things writing “A Framework to Humanize the Internet of Things through Verbs” I landed on the question of “so what if we connected all of these things to the Internet?

Initially I was elated with excitement, and the excitement stemmed from the incorrect assumption based on my experiences of computers. I somehow automatically assumed that once we connected “things” to the Internet, these things will be smart as heck, heck they will be as smart as the things that are currently connected to the Internet, computers, tables, and mobile phones.

Well not so fast, and as I continued to study and experiment in the phenomenon designing mentally for the maturity model, the business models that will emerge, and the design of the industry that will ensue, I landed on the following two constructs.

1. There is a difference between the Internet of things already built, and things that will be built. We are going to connect things to the internet that are dumb, framing the “Internet of Dumb Things” #IoDT? and it will be a journey to the Internet of Smart Things #IoST?. Let’s not assume that because a “thing” is connected to the Internet, it will be as smart as computers.
2. There will be categories of things already built or to be built clustered by the intelligence of said things. Once connected, some things will do more than others and the level of “smartness” will vary widely. Some of the categories I am thinking through are:
   1. The Internet of DUMB Things.
   2. The Internet of CHATTY Things.
   3. The Internet of OBEDIENT Things.
   4. The Internet of USEFUL Things.
   5. The Internet of SMART Things.

And so I continue to foster the vision arriving at conclusions. Here is where my last bout of indulgence left me.

1. The Internet of Things will depend more on GE, Siemens and similar “thing manufacturers” than it will ever depend on Cisco.
2. When all things are connected, broadband will feel like my 14.4 Kbs modem from college as the pipes are simply not big enough for things, and suddenly the copper or fiber rush will be sexy again.

I write as a labor of love, in exchange I ask for comments that challenge my thinking

-Richie