The Internet of (Wonderful and Scary) Things

Smart devices, once relegated to science fiction and our imaginations, are now ubiquitous. Today, there's a market for everything from a Wi-Fi connected refrigerator to a voice-operated speaker that doubles as a personal assistant. The internet of things (IoT) -- the software-operated network of physical devices, appliances, vehicles -- grows day by day as these devices become part of our daily lives. A March 2018 survey found that 22% of Americans used IoT appliances in their homes, and this trend is widespread across the globe. Amazon recently announced a plan to expand Amazon Echo services to Italy and Spain.