The internet of things, or IoT, is a system of devices, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
By 2020, there may be nearly 50 billion smart devices seeking to communicate and share data to enhance user experiences amongst the IoT. This paradigm shift presents difficult questions regarding innovation, intellectual property rights, and access to technology. Representatives from the United States Patent & Trademark Office and the tech industry will discuss the issues and opportunities in standardization and its role in innovation in the midst of increasing demand for IoT infrastructure in daily life.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.