The internet of things comes alive

Mobile phones have been widely adopted by humans as a convenient way to keep in touch – now, machines are increasingly using the same technology to communicate with each other. Vending machines are ordering refills from suppliers, full recycling bins are asking to be emptied, and personal health monitors are triggering remote alarms with health professionals when patients forget to take medication. So-called machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, or ‘The Internet of Things’, has been around as a concept for about eight years. But until recently, it was too complex and expensive to be widely adopted.