Purpose

This paper aims to study the evolution of definitions of internet of things (IoT) through time, critically assess the knowledge these definitions contain and facilitate sensemaking by providing those unfamiliar with IoT with a theoretical definition and an extended framework.

Design/methodology/approach

164 articles published between 2005 and 2019 are collected using snowball sampling. Further, 100 unique definitions are identified in the sample. Definitions are examined using content analysis and applying a theoretical framework of five knowledge dimensions.

Findings

In declarative/relational dimensions of knowledge, increasing levels of agreement are observed in the sample. Sources of tautological reasoning are identified. In conditional and causal dimensions, definitions of IoT remain underdeveloped. In the former, potential limitations of IoT related to resource scarcity, privacy and security are overlooked. In the latter, three main loci of agreement are identified.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not cover all published definitions of IoT. Some narratives may be omitted by our selection criteria and process.

Practical implications

This study supports sensemaking of IoT. Main loci of agreement in definitions of IoT are identified. Avenues for further clarification and consensus are explored. A new framework that can facilitate further investigation and agreement is introduced.

Originality/value

This is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first study that examines the historical evolution of definitions of IoT vis-à-vis its technological features. This study introduces an updated framework to critically assess and compare definitions, identify ambiguities and resolve conflicts among different interpretations. The framework can be used to compare past and future definitions and help actors unfamiliar with IoT to make sense of it in a way to reduce adoption costs. It can also support researchers in studying early discussions of IoT.

中文翻译：

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理解物联网：对 2005 年至 2019 年间物联网定义的批判性回顾

目的

本文旨在研究物联网 (IoT) 定义随时间的演变，批判性地评估这些定义所包含的知识，并通过为不熟悉物联网的人提供理论定义和扩展框架来促进意义构建。

设计/方法/方法

使用滚雪球抽样收集了 2005 年至 2019 年间发表的 164 篇文章。此外，样本中还确定了 100 个独特的定义。使用内容分析和应用五个知识维度的理论框架来检查定义。

发现

在知识的陈述性/关系维度中，在样本中观察到越来越多的一致性。确定了同义反复推理的来源。在条件和因果维度上，物联网的定义仍然不完善。在前者中，物联网在资源稀缺、隐私和安全方面的潜在局限性被忽视了。在后者中，确定了三个主要的一致性位点。

研究限制/影响

本研究并未涵盖所有已发布的物联网定义。我们的选择标准和过程可能会省略一些叙述。

实际影响

这项研究支持物联网的意义构建。确定了物联网定义中的主要一致点。探讨了进一步澄清和达成共识的途径。引入了一个可以促进进一步调查和达成协议的新框架。

原创性/价值

据作者所知，这是第一项研究物联网定义与其技术特征的历史演变。本研究引入了一个更新的框架，以批判性地评估和比较定义，识别歧义并解决不同解释之间的冲突。该框架可用于比较过去和未来的定义，并帮助不熟悉物联网的参与者以降低采用成本的方式理解它。它还可以支持研究人员研究物联网的早期讨论。