For context, Internet of Things (IoT for short) is an umbrella term that encompasses all those devices with Internet access, such as PCs, laptops, PDAs, tablets, phones, etc.; but having internet access is just the foundation: these devices are expected to be smart and be able to communicate. Smartphones and smart cars are great examples that illustrate the IoT ecosystem, but so are wearables.
So what did Apple unveil?
There were actually many things that were unveiled in WWDC, but I'll focus on those that are more than just incremental changes and that show a promising future.
watchOS 2
With its latest OS release for the Apple Watch, Apple is empowering developers to create great things by rolling out a programming framework called "WatchKit". WatchKit allows developers to write native apps for the Watch that leverage hardware features specific to this form factor (such as the microphone, speaker, video, accelerometer, Taptic Engine, and Digital Crown) which weren't accessible on v1 watchOS apps whose logic ran on the iPhone. Other features of WatchKit include integration with HomeKit (an existing framework that provides programmatic access to smart home devices), HealthKit (an existing framework that provides programmatic access to health data), and ClockKit (a new framework that supports the management of Complications).
Also worth noting are the WatchConnectivity and Tetherless Wi-Fi features. WatchConnectivity allows iPhone and Watch to communicate more effectively, while Tetherless Wi-Fi allows Watch to connect directly to well-known wifi hotspots.
CarPlay
Automakers can now write their own apps with access to control systems within the vehicle.
What does this mean for the industry?
It's all about connecting the dots, as Steve once mentioned in his speech to Stanford graduating class.
A personal experience
As Brian Solis mentions in his book "What's the Future of Business?", the next generation of business is centered around meaningful customer experiences; take the concept of "user experience" and apply it to a "customer" (instead of a "user"). Specifically in the tech sector, this is accomplished by gathering data about the user to know the user better; the more data a device has about its user, the more tailored the experience delivered to the user will be.
There are two key elements that make this happen: the form factors and the programming frameworks. Take the Apple Watch: this is a wearable device, which means that it will be worn by the user most of the day; it's a device that's physically tied to the user. When Apple provides developers with access to programming frameworks like WatchKit and HealthKit on the Watch, developers can write apps that leverage the form factor and access vital signs such as heart rate (which would be unnatural to accomplish with a PC). With ClockKit, apps can show the user tailored notifications right there on the Watch, without needing to use a smartphone or other device.
On the other side of the house there's the mainframe: a device which is not meant for personal use at all. These machines were built for different reasons, and staying connected to the user was not a thing back in the day. This shows that, over time, computing devices are gradually being built to be tied closer to the user: we had the PC, then PDAs, then smartphones and tablets.
A myriad of smart, connected devices
The push towards a broader ecosystem of smart, connected devices is just beginning, and Apple is showing its take on it.
On one side, Apple is empowering its watchOS and CarPlay platforms with more "smart" functionality similar to the iOS platform. Watch users will now be able to reply to e-mail directly and share their fitness activity on social networks.
On the other hand, Apple is empowering its platforms to be better connected. With the capabilities enabled by HomeKit, users will be able to directly control lights and other things in their home without needing to be home. Note that Apple doesn't limit this ecosystem to their own devices (they integrate with iHome, for instance), but there's more room to grow; will we see Apple devices connect to the June smart oven?
Similar to the value of a social network, Metcalfe's Law can be applied to the IoT. Isolated devices add a minimal value to users when compared to the potential value that can be delivered by an ecosystem of devices that communicate. There's not much value in adding smart home devices to your house if you can't access them remotely.
Technical implications
The number of connected devices is growing exponentially. With it, there are 2 technologies that will become increasingly relevant: IPv6 and big data.
IP addresses (which are required to access the Internet) were scarce long before the push towards the Internet of Things. IPv6, which provides a lot more addresses than IPv4 (the previous standard) has been adopted gradually since June 2012. However, its complete adoption will be required in order to cater for the increase in IP address demand.
Given that these devices are connected to the internet, these devices will generate and send data through the network. Diverse types of data will be useful in different areas, and the processing and analysis of such data to provide actionable insights will become ever more important.
Social implications
For sure, granting our devices and apps permission to use our personal data can end up benefitting our health, fitness, and productivity. However, the risk of this data falling into the wrong hands will increase, threatening our security and privacy. But this is how the "gift of fire" (technology) evolves: a solution gives rise to new problems, so iteratively, technology tends to improve by solving problems that come along with it.
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