We may be nearing the peak of the hype cycle.
Early reports from the show are somewhat disquieting in the breadth and range of IoT offerings that are “me too” kinds of wearables and convenience-oriented products of marginal value. Some of the highlights include a tea kettle you can remotely start with a smartphone app, an automatic plant watering device that reports plant status to the cloud, and a coffee pot that strengthens its morning brew if your fitness monitor shows you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. There are also innumerable variations on health and body monitors and smart watches on display.
Frankly, most of these new products invoke little more than mild interest in me at best, and usually elicit a big yawn. But then, I have been covering the IoT for some time now and not so easily impressed. I can see, though, how the general consumer could find these devices amazing and exciting the first time they encounter them. But that will only be a flash of interest based on the novelty of the technology. For consumer IoT to develop a lasting market, it will need to actually offer value. And for the IoT to deliver its full value, devices need to be able to connect with one another in true Internet fashion rather than be the isolated solutions that they are today.