Google wants to speed up the progress on the "Internet of Things" market and has announced various set of grants to allow budding developers and engineers to create devices for the smart home or office.

The grants will include a $500,000 to $800,000 grant to an education facility or student, willing to put a lot of time into completing the expedition. Google will also offer several $50,000 to $150,000 grants for "new and unorthodox solutions" to current problems facing Internet of Things (IoT).

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Google is specifically interested in user interface, security and privacy, protocols and software development for the IoT devices. It is clear Google wants to see a breakthrough in communication between the user and the laundry list of devices that may support IoT in the future.

It is unclear whether grant winners will have to work to Google's spec, or get complete creative freedom. Google normally offers jobs to students who show skill in these tests, meaning grant winners who actually make breakthroughs will more than likely get a place at Google.

IoT commonly gets bundled with smart home tools like the Nest thermostat and LIFX LED bulb, but the truth is IoT represents a shift away from dormant "things" that serve one purpose and cannot communicate.

Suddenly, a fridge can tell a smartphone it is out of grapes; a kettle can start to boil as soon as the user wakes up; TV can switch off as soon as you leave the room, then turn back on when you enter.

This is only the start as well, IoT looks to be the start of an amazing future where every electronic device is connected through the cloud, with a central hub for the user to control all tasks.

It is not only for the home as well, Google and other IoT research groups are looking into making the office mobile, using cloud systems and mobile devices to change the way 9-to-5 happens.

Projections claim IoT will be one of the most valuable markets by 2020, but there is still a long way to go before we reach a point of complete autonomy.

Tagsengineer grants, smart home