Internet of things (IoT) was utterly an unknown term for a long time. It was in the year 2010 when the IoT Council declared April 9 as the World Internet of Things (IoT) Day to raise awareness about IoT, keeping in mind the current IoT capabilities and future innovations.

The Internet of Things (IoT) Community aims to bring recognition and celebrate the power that IoT has to transform communities, businesses, and lives. It is a day to celebrate all about ‘the Internet of Things.’ IoT is considered to be an essential element of the Next Generation Internet, setting the groundwork for future systems and devices.

Moreover, the current pandemic situation has forced people to stay at home to control the coronavirus spread (COVID-19). Such a situation brings more importance to this day as it encourages Internet and IoT device usage. This is the best time to let people understand IoT’s importance, especially when the demand for technology like IoT increases exponentially.

Emergence of the term ‘IoT’

Before we jump on to the importance of the day, let’s dig up the history from where the term ‘Internet of thing (IoT)’ came into action. Many have mentioned that Kevin Ashton, a former Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) executive with Proctor and Gamble, first coined the term in 1999.

Kevin later expressed in an RFID Journal blog post titled “That ‘Internet of Things’ Thing” about the term’s origin and what the word meant according to him.

“I could be wrong, but I’m fairly sure the phrase ‘Internet of Things’ started life as the title of a presentation I made at Procter and amp; Gamble (P and amp;G) in 1999. Linking the new idea of RFID in P and amp;G’s supply chain to the then-red-hot topic of the Internet was more than just a good way to get executive attention. It summed up an important insight – one that ten years later, after the Internet of Things has become the title of everything from an article in Scientific American to the name of a European Union conference, is still often misunderstood.”

“But what I meant, and still mean, is this: Today, computers – and, therefore, the Internet – are almost wholly dependent on human beings for information. The problem is, people have limited time, attention and accuracy—all of which means they are not very good at capturing data about things in the real world. We need to empower computers with their own means of gathering information, so they can see, hear and smell the world for themselves, in all its random glory.”

And the current tech-built world proves his vision real. The current economy, society, and survival are not based on ideas or information but on things. No doubt, opinions, and information are essential, but things matter much more. Today, information technology is so dependent on data that computers know more about ideas than things.

If computers knew everything using data they gathered without any human support, they would turn capable enough to track and keep all the information, thus reducing waste, loss, and cost. It would even turn helpful to know when to replace, repair or recall a thing.

Vision of IoT day – making IoT devices safer

One of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of these interconnected computers, humans, or things is security. Security of the devices and the networks on which these devices operate and the communication they share. Ignorance of safety makes the IoT ecosystem and everything within it vulnerable to attack.

According to a private research organization, Ponemon Institute, only 43% of companies using IoT-connected devices take adequate measures to protect their organizations’ high-value data and operational assets. With the expected surge in connected devices on track to hit 75.44 billion by 2025, many devices are in danger, and the hackers are benefitting from it.

According to a global cybersecurity company, Kaspersky, IoT hackers are continuously increasing. The company is keen on monitoring its honeypots, a network of virtual copies of various Internet-connected devices and applications.

The World Internet of Things day is the best occasion to salute all those who have contributed to this ongoing connected world’s existence and the success of IoT Day. Kevin Ashton coined the phrase “Internet of Things” giving credit to all those who have contributed to building the technology that makes it work every day, connecting people with things through computers.

The IoT Day allows reaffirming the pledge to continue to make the IoT a safe place for all.

For more details download our latest whitepapers on the Internet of Things.