Grimy Internet of Things IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the application of unique identifiers to physical objects that enables them to be connected to a network allowing the transfer of data to and from those objects. IoT objects can be people, animals, vehicles, plant, appliances, building components and so on.
The ability to connect objects via the Internet has existed since the 1980s. The phrase 'Internet of Things' was first coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999.
The allocation of an IP address to these objects means that they have the potential to communicate with other objects on the network (often machine-to-machine or M2M communication).
The early days of IoT M2M implementations (which were aimed at industrial control and remote management), is sometimes referred to as retrofitted or “grimy IoT”. This is in contrast to “shiny IoT”, which is the term used to describe the integrated state of the IoT as it has existed since 2015.
[edit] Related articles
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
New and updated CLC building safety guidance.
New UK National Buildings Database.
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.