IoT and conferences: Not a sector, but a critical theme

These days there is a conference or convention for just about everything. Are you a foodie that also enjoys gaming and watching YouTube? There is a conference for that. Are you a fan of My Little Pony? There is a convention for that, too. The Internet of Things is no different, but where it does stand out is in the sheer number of conferences that are taking place around the world with a focus on the technology and promise of the IoT.

Because the Internet of Things really is… everything, it would be exceedingly difficult to contain it in a single conference. New technologies and solutions are being created every day. This may be why there are dozens of conferences around the world each year, all dedicated to one or more aspects of the Internet of Things.

Even the tech conferences that aren’t specific to the Internet of Things are quickly becoming overrun with IoT projects from attending vendors. At the Intel Developer Forum, the main keynote became a showcase of Intel’s IoT projects, including its Joule IoT development kit and Merged Reality, a VR experience that takes advantage of Intel’s RealSense camera to blend the real world with the virtual one.

Even big conferences like SXSW are looking at IoT

SXSW Interactive, a giant annual Austin-based technology and entertainment conference hosts meetups and parties for tech brands across the city. These companies often test and even launch their new apps and IoT solutions at this event. The Internet of Things has become such a large part of this conference that you can find over a dozen separate events dedicated to IoT taking place during the Interactive portion of SXSW.

There are even multi-day conferences set aside for the most specific of IoT applications. The Wearable Tech in Sport Summit, for example, is being held in August alongside the Sports Analytics Innovation Summit. There is even a conference dedicated to smart lighting solutions being held in Australia called the Australian Smart Lighting Summit.

With so many innovations happening that partner everyday items with a new generation of connected technologies, it’s no surprise that so many conferences are adopting and even being formed around the ever-expanding world of IoT.