Internet of video things in 2030: A world with many cameras

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the internetworking of a variety of devices, including sensors. Among all sensors, visual sensors (i.e. cameras) are special because they can provide rich and versatile information. The world already has more than one billion cameras on mobile phones. We define the internet-working of visual sensors as the Internet of Video Things. This article estimates the number of cameras the world will see in 2030 and the implications of a large number of cameras. Transmitting, storing, and analyzing the data from cameras could impose significant challenges to existing technological infrastructures. This paper surveys recent progress in relevant technologies and suggests directions for future research.