The phrase the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) has become synonymous with the next stage of humankind’s economic advancement. But what exactly is the IoT and why might it be so important?

Linda Bernardi explains how the introduction of so-called ‘smart’ objects – from phones and cars to kettles and domestic central heating systems – might seem like just another step towards an ever more convenient lifestyle but is in fact a paradigm shift in the way businesses must think about consumer needs.