The trucking industry, which suffers huge food losses due to mobile refrigeration issues, could use sensors to detect which doors are not tightly shut and report this information to a central hub.

“We can automate things that we as humans do not have the attention to detail to care about,” said Elkadri.

Another panellist suggested that because the concept of the IoT can be overwhelming, a good approach for an interested business is to start with just one problem.

Av Utukuri is an executive with Nytric, a research and development technological innovation company, as well as with screen technology company Baanto.

He gave the example of a trucking company. Because the amount of fuel that is stolen from trucks is “staggering,” a trucking company could invest in simple gas cap sensors at a few dollars a piece. These sensors would report to central office whenever a tank is opened.

There are particular industries that routinely fall victims to theft which the technology could be particularly valuable for, said Utukuri. He said the alcohol and tobacco industry in the U.S. loses $280,000 annually. The electronics industry loses $397,000 every year and the pharma industry loses $262,000 per annum.

“No data is collected during freight,” said Utukuri. “Nobody is watching. This theft is often inside jobs.”

The construction industry could place sensors inside components such as furnaces and pallets. These sensors would constantly report their locations to a central hub.

The IoT could distribute and protect sensitive information. For instance, a patient’s health chart typically hangs at the end of his hospital bed. Sensors worn by staff could indicate to the chart whether a nurse or doctor is on hand. The computerized chart would then grant access to varying sets of information.

“Use it to make the sum bigger than the actual parts,” Elkadri advised.

Dashwood referred to several real-life IoT success scenarios listed on the Microsoft website www.InternetOfYourThings.

* ThyssenKrupp equipped elevators around the world with sensors that send data to the cloud (an off-site data storage centre) and suggest maintenance prior to an actual breakdown.

* KUKA Systems Group built a super efficient JEEP Wrangler assembly line in Toledo, Ohio. Hundreds of robots are connected to 60,000 device points. Data streamed to a private cloud monitors wear and tear to prevent system breakdowns. Every 77 seconds a car body is produced. The machinery quickly adapts to produce eight body types on the same assembly line.

“Assembly lines can use this technology,” said Dashwood. “It is more precise than eyeballing things.”

* In Paris, Autolib reduced congestion and pollution with a new electric car transportation system. Members sign in at automated kiosks. They are given the locations of and access to hundreds of AutoLib cars scattered throughout the city. Drivers can gain entry to charging stations. In addition, AutoLib’s IoT connects them to available parking spaces.

“A lot of technologies, when you put them together, this is when the magic happens,” said Elkadri.

However, Utukuri pointed out that the IoT will bring some secret, scary surveillance elements into our world.

People will not always like their activities being monitored closely. He added that the IoT might also present some safety issues.

“What will happen when a driverless car hits two J-walkers?” Utukuri asked.

However, the IoT has already saved lives by sending technology to places risky for humans, he pointed out. For example, survivors from the 2015 Nepal earthquake were found on their rooftops through flying unmanned technologies.

Sensors in the centre of hurricanes predict their paths of destruction.

In addition, the IoT may mean a loss of jobs.

“Will the IoT be painful sometimes and weird sometimes? Yes,” said Dashwood. “It means a paradigm shift.”

But as jobs are lost, new jobs will be created, he said. For example, to take full advantage of the IoT, people will be needed to monitor and analyze the data it creates. Specialists will also be needed to repair systems.

Besides, the jobs the IoT will steal perhaps are best given to technology, he suggested.

“Should human beings really be checking doors once an hour?” asked Dashwood. “We as humans should not be doing that. This will be good for humanity in general. Educate that person.”

A new way of thinking will be necessary to allow this technology to explode.

But explode it will. Statistics show that in 2010 there were eight million things connected in this world. By 2015 there were about five billion. By 2020 it is predicted there will be 21 billion tiny little microchips whispering to each other and telling others what you are doing. The figures were gleaned from the 2015 Gartner Symposium, an international gathering of senior IT executives.

“It can seem very confusing and intimidating to start with,” said Dashwood. “It is also very noisy. A lot of companies don’t know where to start and who can help them.”

He advised to just start small, with what you have. Talk to a company such as Microsoft to determine what data you can collect and how it can help you save on heating bills or increase security. Let it grow from there.

And if your needs are simpler, like that golf swing, imagine sensors on your clubs that record speed and angles and then report this info to your cell phone which relays it to a network of contacts listed there, which includes your coach and other club members you are competing with.

“The internet of things starts with your things,” said Dashwood.