Third Wave Magazine Issue 1 clone_ | Page 31

From our point of view , wearables ( aka wearable tech or wearable technologies , there is no difference ) are a part of the internet of things . Wearables are worn on or around the body . You don ’ t wear a charging handbag , you carry it – but for us it fits the definition because it is worn very near the body .

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So , just what exactly is the internet of things ?

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Traditionally , we ’ ve used the internet to connect one computer to another . The idea behind the internet of things ( also called the IoT ) is that computers can now connect to everyday objects and vice versa .

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As it becomes trivially inexpensive to add sensors or an internet connection to just about anything from household appliances to houseplants , we get information , send commands , and work alongside the objects we 
 find in our day-to-day environments . This means the internet is not just speaking in zeros and ones , it ’ s also speaking in 
 atoms – the physical objects that make up the world around us .

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With the internet of things , your house knows when someone arrives . Your thermostat knows the weather outside and adjusts the temperature accordingly . In a fun experiment from MIT Media Lab , your jacket even hugs you when someone likes your post on Facebook . The internet of things , in other words , is about giving all kinds of “ things ” a digital presence , and with wearable technology that means giving people a new kind of digital presence , too .

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Fitness bands track your physical activities with a digital counter , smart watches dress your wrist with a convenient 
 window into your digital life , and pendants for kids 
 keep parents up to date on their location .

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Much of what we do is about bringing the digital world into our physical spaces . The internet of things brings the physical world into the digital realm .

The internet of things brings the physical world into the digital realm .