Internet of Things (IoT): Studying the Integration of Everyday Objects with the Internet and the Implications for Human Lives

This chapter explores the integration of everyday objects with the Internet, commonly known as the Internet of things (IoT) and its transformative impact on human lives and urban environments. The chapter begins with an introduction to IoT, providing foundational knowledge about how this technology merges the physical and digital worlds through interconnected devices, ranging from home appliances to complex urban infrastructure. It emphasises the potential benefits of IoT, such as enhanced efficiency, convenience, and personalisation of user experiences, while also addressing significant concerns regarding privacy, security, and the socioeconomic implications of widespread technology deployment. A substantial focus is placed on how IoT technologies shape and are shaped by urban environments, using metropolitan projects as examples to explore the integration of technology within cities. The narrative investigates strategic considerations related to the embedding of IoT in urban landscapes, questioning how technology can harmoniously coexist with ecological and human dimensions of city life. Moreover, the chapter delves into responsive environments (RE), an area of human–technology Interaction (HTI) that merges architecture, computer science, and cognitive science to create spaces that adapt to human presence and behaviour.