The IoT is about insight, not things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is arguably at the peak of the hype cycle, but while much of the discussion is focused on the "things" themselves or the networks required to connect them, the real value of the IoT will come from the cloud and data analytics behind the scenes.

The big idea of the IoT is that capturing data from devices is cool, but if we are just collecting data, it's just telematics. The real promise of IoT is how you tie that data together with insight and intelligent action.

Technically, we've been connecting "things" for years for M2M apps like utility grid sensors and fleet tracking. And while we're now connecting more and more things with more sophisticated apps, the real change is what's happening behind the scenes.

What IoT is really about now is large complex data flows, which is enabling new types of insight and business opportunities that previously weren't available. The "cloud" is the enabler of these new scenarios. The cloud stores and processes data, the data provides insight, and the insight leads to intelligent action.

There are many scenarios which may working on, including a connected glass that know's what you're drinking and display nutritional information retrieved from the cloud, and connected toilet paper holder that lets you know when you're running low.

Other examples of IoT apps, including elevators that leverage predictive analytics to anticipate when they need repairs, and location based audio navigation guide for visually impaired people that warns of incoming obstacles and provide information such as street names and nearby shops and restaurants.