Face it: The internet of things isn’t going to develop like the web

Stacey Higginbotham

Tue, Aug 12, 2014, 1:10 AM

Maybe it’s time for us to grow up a bit and recognize that two or three companies that have the ability to invest in creating an awesome user experience will control the destiny of the consumer-oriented internet of things. The experience won’t be built on one standard as we hope. Of course, the companies will provide that platform are still up in the air, according to Tom Coates, the co-founder of stealthy startup Product Club and the man behind the @HouseofCoates Twitter account.

In this week’s podcast he and I discuss what the above topic, as well as what a device that helps make the smart home into a mainstream desire could look like. He also tells me why we’re no closer to any rules about the use of our personal data. Many of his conclusions mirror our own at the show; so far the internet of things is pretty clunky for mainstream users. Meanwhile, my colleague Kevin Tofel and I talk about the Hue tap light switch, Philips teaming up with Accenture to use consumer connected devices to make it easier for patients with ALS to communicate, and a primer on Android Fit and Android Wear.

Listen up, and if you like the podcast, make sure you send Coates a friendly tweet. He says he never gets those.

Host: Stacey Higginbotham
Guests: Kevin Tofel and Tom Coates of Product Club

That clicking noise you hear is our initial take on the Hue tap wall switch (pictured above)
How we could use wearables, sensors and connected devices to help people with certain diseases communicate
Why the internet won’t be open like the web
No one is using the internet of things, so no one cares yet about their data
Connected devices will come, but we need a magical device or service to make consumers love them