At the heart of the Internet of Things are the wireless microsensors and microprocessors that collect and transmit information. Scientists have now begun shrinking these sensors from millimetres or microns in size to the nanometer scale, small enough to circulate within the living body and to mix directly into construction materials. The interconnectivity of these nano-scale devices is described as the Internet of Nano Things (IoNT).
Because they are so small, nanosensors can collect information from millions of different points. External devices can then integrate the data to generate incredibly detailed maps showing the slightest changes in light, vibration, electrical currents, magnetic fields, chemical concentrations and other environmental conditions.