2.1.2 Common devices
The internet connects more computing devices than just desktop and laptop computers. There are devices all around that you may interact with on a daily basis that are also connected to the internet.
For example, people are using mobile devices more every day to communicate and accomplish daily tasks, such as checking the weather or online banking. The table below shows more about mobile devices.
In the future, many of the things in your home could also connect to the internet so that they can be monitored and configured remotely. Table 1 shows more about connected household devices.
There are also many connected devices found in the world outside your home that provide convenience and useful or even vital information. The table below shows more about these commonly found connected devices.
How many of these devices do you use on a daily basis?
| Smartphones | Tablets | Smartwatches | Google Glass |
| Smartphones are able to connect to the internet from almost anywhere. Smartphones combine the functions of many different products together, such as a telephone, camera, GPS receiver, media player, and touch screen computer. | Tablets, like smartphones, also have the functionality of multiple devices. With the additional screen size, they are ideal for watching videos and reading magazines or books. With on-screen keyboards, users are able to do many of the things they used to do on their laptop computer, such as composing emails or browsing the web. | A smartwatch can connect to a smartphone to provide the user with alerts and messages. Additional functions, such as heart rate monitoring and counting steps, like a pedometer, can help people who are wearing the device to track their health. | Google glass was an experimental wearable computer in the form of glasses with a tiny screen that displays information to the wearer in a similar fashion to the head-up display (HUD) of a fighter pilot. A small touch pad on the side allows the user to navigate menus while still being able to see through the Google glass. |