This volume is a collection of 15 standalone papers, assembled into four sections, covering selected aspects of an emerging and fast-moving field generically described as the Internet of Things (IoT), or more recently the Web of Things (WoT). These two descriptors are used interchangeably and somewhat inconsistently among the 15 papers, although the editors do attempt to more rigorously define the two terminologies in their preface. This simple lack of consistency in a major subject descriptor is but one example of limited editorial control across the collected papers.

The 15 individual papers are unusually international in scope, involving 54 authors representing institutions in 13 countries of which more than 90 percent are from outside the US. The editors state that these papers “focus on the most recent developments in the field of the [WoT],” including modeling, searching, data analytics, software building, applications, and social impact. The editors further assert: “the reader will be able to gain up-to-date knowledge and experience on how to manage things over the web.” Neither assertion is quite true. This volume is not a textbook or proceedings of any important conference or symposium, recent or not. Almost all of the papers are specific applications across domains of smart homes and cities, health, transportation, environment, and energy initiatives. Each standalone paper includes definitions and references, but taken as a whole there is no subject matter overlap and they are not cross-referenced. A further assessment of the individual papers thus assembled, however meritorious by themselves, is beyond the scope of this review. The editors have included an overall index that is helpful in identifying where specific topics are addressed in multiple papers. A common set of references and list of acronyms would be helpful.

A notable deficiency across these assembled papers is the limited or nonexistent consideration of information and network security within the WoT context. The underlying assumption seems to be that the WoT will operate in a benign interconnected environment without serious security threats by malevolent forces and constant attack. Only one paper, “Security Issues of the WoT,” actually outlines what the real-world concerns of privacy, integrity, availability, authentication, and accountability/auditing even are. Unfortunately, this paper stays at the description level and does not at all delve into current developments to address and mitigate these issues.

This missing aspect of information and network security is a limiting consideration in the implementation of any real-world IoT or WoT, and is thus a serious limitation of this volume in the practical Internet realization of most of the application domain interconnections addressed therein. For this reason alone, this collection of papers cannot be recommended for information systems practitioners or other IoT/WoT support policy or decision-making scholars.