Abstract
The Internet has come a long way in the previous three decades. It began as
a content-sharing platform for early websites, portals, and search engines. With the
globalization of Internet users, the importance and diversity of Internet material have
increased; the Internet is increasingly connecting people rather than just connecting
information. Other services, such as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video
chat, as well as social networks, have enabled the social web. The end-user has
changed as a result of the shift from information consumers to contributors and
producers. This trend has accelerated with the introduction of smartphones and Internet
of Things (IoT) devices. Smartphones have ushered in a new era of communication, in
addition to data. End-users may access information from wherever they need to connect
with their environment for basic everyday activities thanks to a new type of
communication. Cabs may be summoned in large cities by pressing a button on a
mobile device and using an app like Uber. The Internet connects things, dwellings,
cities, and everything else that can be linked, with early information associated with
individuals and later users engaging with other users via the social Web. As a result, a
smart platform with a wide range of smart services emerges. This chapter examines the
growing trend of connecting things and the issues they provide in the context of smart
homes and cities, as well as a summary of key technological capabilities.