“物联网”这个概念描述的是一个对象和对象间的无线网络。它在某种程度上与现在的可寻址网页网络（也就是www）是并驾齐驱的，不过，“物联网”包含了可寻址的无生命物体，它既可以是家里的冰箱，也可能是你脚上的鞋子。尽管人们数年来一直在讨论这个互联物体组成的世界，但物联网的概念却进展甚微，至少目前如此。

Tikitag

最近，我们发现有很多公司都在试图开发能够建立“物联网”的技术。其中一个是出现在DEMO08会展上的Tikitag公司。有了启动工具箱和一些客户软件，用户可以自行设计RFID标签，将它们用在任何用途上。它们可以启动应用程序，将用户链至URL，此外还能提供很多功能。

Tikitag电子标签的优点是，用户不需要专门的RFID阅读器对它们进行扫描——它们与NFC（Near Field Communication，近场无线通信）手机这样的第三方阅读器是兼容的。NFC手机至今已有4000万台，而分析家估计到2012年它的销售量会达到超过2.5亿台。

Tikitag启动工具箱包括一台阅读器和10个标签，售价34.95欧元（含税）/49.95美元。附加Tikitag RFID标签售价为19.95欧元或29.95美元。

Mir:ror

Mir:ror（魔镜）是Violet公司的设备，它可以探测你给它的物品，并赋予该物品以能力。如果你在与USB连接的“魔镜”前挥舞东西，就可以自动触发应用程序和多媒体内容。“魔镜”实际上并不能感知物体本身，它对物体上的RFID射频标签作出反应，得知下一步应该告诉电脑的信息。

这些标签嵌在Violet公司的Ztamp里——Ztamp彩色的RFID“邮票”，贴在想要连接的物体上。标签还能与Violet公司另一种更具知名度的联网产品联合使用——可爱的机器兔子Nabaztag可以通过光线、声音和语音来表达任何周围环境的信息，比如为你阅读邮件和RSS Feed。

Pachube

Pachube服务可以让你“从世界各处的物体、设备、建筑和环境中标记和分享实时感应的信息。其主要目标是促进两个环境间远距离的物质和非物质交流。”在Pachube网站上，你可以添加一个feed或使用已有的feed。Feed来源于已经联网或可以发送短信的设备、建筑和互联装置。Pachube还支持“第二生命”（Second Life）装置。

在网站上注册一个feed后，用户便可以与其他对象分享实时数据，保留自己数据的历史记录，或创建用于网页的在线图像。

Arduino

Arduino是一款由开放源代码软硬件组成的开放源代码电子原型设计平台，为艺术家、设计师、业余爱好者和所有对创建交互式对象和环境（即“物联网”）有兴趣的人而构建。

如果你想了解通过Arduino可以构建什么类型的联网物体，请观看此演示。作者对一把儿童玩具射线枪进行了设置，只要有人在Twitter上对#barcampliverpool散列标签做出标记，玩具枪就会作出反应。

ZeroG Wireless

ZeroG Wireless是一家专攻小功耗无线芯片的半导体公司。它的低功耗Wifi芯片可以嵌入任何系统，包括电子消费品、智能能源设备、家庭和建筑控制仪器，便携式医学传感器和传感器网络等。公司出于“相信无线连接的全新模式已近在眼前这一事实”而建立。公司的网站称，它们的设想是“无线第四代——物联网”。

英文原文：5 Companies Building the "Internet of Things"

The is "internet of things" a concept that describes a wireless network between objects. In a way, it parallels the current network of addressable web pages (aka the "world wide web"), except "the internet of things" would include addressable inanimate objects that could be anything from your home's refrigerator to the shoes on your feet. Although this world of web-connected things has been much discussed for years, we've seen little movement pushing the concept forward. At least, until now.

Tikitag

Recently, we've seen a handful of companies attempting to develop technologies that could build an "internet of things." One example is Tikitag, a company that presented at the DEMO 08 conference. With a Tikitag starter kit and some client software, you can program your own RFID tags so that they can do anything you want them to do. They can launch an application, deliver you to a URL, and so much more.

What's great about Tikitag's tags is that you don't need a specialized RFID reader in order to scan them - they're compatible with third party readers like NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled mobile phones. There are already over 40 million of these phones available and analysts expect over 250 millions to be sold in 2012.

You can get the Tikitag starter kit with one reader and 10 tags for 34.95 Euro + VAT/$49.95 U.S. Additional Tikitag RFID tags are sold for 19.95 EURO or $29.95 U.S.

Mir:ror

Mir:ror is a device from a company called Violet that detects the objects you show it and gives them powers. As you wave a device over the USB-attached mirror, you can trigger applications and multimedia content automatically. The "magic" mirror isn't actually sensing the object itself, but is reacting to an RFID tag placed on the object which then tells your computer what to do.

Those tags are embedded in the company's Ztamps, colorful RFID stamps that you stick on the objects you want to connect. They also work with the company's other more well-known internet-connected object: the Nabaztag, an adorable rabbit that can deliver anything from ambient information through lights and sounds to verbal information - like when he reads your email or RSS feeds to you.

Pachube

Pachube is a service that lets you "tag and share real time sensor data from objects, devices, buildings and environments around the world. The key aim is to facilitate interaction between remote environments, both physical and virtual." On their web site, you can either input a feed or use one of the feeds available. The feeds come from devices, buildings, or interactive installations that are already connected to the internet or that send out SMS messages. Also supported are Second Life installations.

 By registering a feed on the site, you can share your real-time data with other objects, keep historical records of your data, or create online graphs to use in a web page.
Arduino

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform made up of open source hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments - that is, "the internet of things."

For an example of the type of internet-connected objects you can build with Arduino, look at this presentation where the author configured a kid's toy ray gun to react when anyone posted on Twitter about the #barcampliverpool hash tag.