Uploaded November 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
First came the internet of people—a worldwide computer network connecting billions of people. Then came the Internet of Things—a worldwide effort to connect billions or trillions of new things to the existing internet. The Internet of Things will certainly change the way that we live, and makes it possible to imagine Jetsons-like scenarios. Amazon already lets you put a smart button on your laundry machine so that you can trigger a shipment of detergent the moment you need it. And at some point soon, milk may show up at your door because your refrigerator noticed that you were low and decided to order more. But even as these conveniences become less far-fetched, the most interesting things on the internet will probably continue to be people.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.
First came the internet of people—a worldwide computer network connecting billions of people. Then came the Internet of Things—a worldwide effort to connect billions or trillions of new things to the existing internet. The Internet of Things will certainly change the way that we live, and makes it possible to imagine Jetsons-like scenarios. Amazon already lets you put a smart button on your laundry machine so that you can trigger a shipment of detergent the moment you need it. And at some point soon, milk may show up at your door because your refrigerator noticed that you were low and decided to order more. But even as these conveniences become less far-fetched, the most interesting things on the internet will probably continue to be people.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.
