What does the 'things' in Internet of Things refer to?

• A. Smart phones and tablets
• B. Machines and vehicles that operate themselves
• C. A physical object with embedded electronics
• D. Data clouds and services

Answer: (C)

Things in the Internet of Things are physical objects that have electronics, sensors, and a way to connect to the internet, so they can sense their environment, share data, and often act on instructions. This combination—being a tangible object with embedded sensing and communication capabilities—is what makes something a “thing” in IoT.

That’s why the best description is a physical object with embedded electronics: it captures the idea that IoT isnifies everyday items by giving them sensing and connectivity. Smartphones and tablets are common interaction devices people use to work with IoT, but they aren’t typically thought of as the core “things” themselves. Data clouds and services are part of the ecosystem that collects and uses the data from these objects, but they aren’t the physical object being referred to. Machines and vehicles that operate themselves can be IoT-enabled, but the term “things” is broader and centers on any physical object equipped with sensors and connectivity.