Internet of Things vs. Internet of Everything: What’s the Difference?

Technologically speaking, there is only one Internet: the Internet of Everything. It consists of three conceptual subsystems: the Internet of Digital, the Internet of Things, and the Internet of Humans.

The Internet of Digital refers to the digital-first domain – that is, the “traditional” Internet, where digital data points are readily available.

The Internet of Things is about connecting the physical-first domain, which does not generate digital data unless augmented or manipulated.

Machine-to-Machine is a subsystem of the Internet of Things – but not the other way round. Their key difference is that in M2M the physical-first products are connected on a point-to-point basis, while in the IoT this happens on a multipoint basis.

The third IoE subsystem, the Internet of Humans, refers to interactions between humans and the other two subsystems. This can involve both direct user input (e.g. control over a digitally connected product) or indirect human tracking (e.g. using a Quantified Self application).

What constitutes a physical-first “Thing” is a moving target, relying on the perceived novelty of products going smart and connected. Therefore, what is considered part of the IoT today may someday be considered a natural part of the Internet of Digital.

The Internet of Everything revolution is inseparably also a sensor revolution. Connected sensor nodes play a fundamental role in the convergence of digital first and physical-first domains.

2. Summarize the content of the paper.

3. Speak about the terms «the Internet of Digital», «the Internet of Things», and «the Internet of Humans».

What is the difference between these terms?