THE INTERNET OF THINGS is coming, connecting devices will be powering it, and it will make your home and your car smart. That, at least, is the case if the companies are to be believed that exhibited at IFA 2015 in Berlin, one of the world's largest consumer electronics shows, this September. IFA is getting bigger every year, with a record 1,600 companies attending the trade show. And although it's all about consumer appliances and cool gadgets - with smart washing machines here, clever fridges there, and smart watches and smart TVs everywhere - it's clear that the IoT is dominating this year's show, with technology companies hoping that it will soon arrive in your home. "Two aspects are critical to the success of smart appliances: interoperability, regardless of the manufacturer, and the value-added services enabled by digitisation," says Reinhard Zinkann, co-founder of Miele, a German-based manufacturer of high-end domestic appliances. "The value of smart is not about hardware, but about services that allow you to go smart."
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