Estimates for the size of the Internet of Things, or IoT, vary widely with some pegging its value in the tens of trillions of dollars. While the potential for IoT is large, some realistic expectations are necessary for shareholders investing in its future.

With that in mind, Fool analysts Nathan Hamilton and Sean O'Reilly provide a primer on IoT. Nathan discusses its history while also touching upon both the IoT's potential and some of the technologies that companies such as Intel (INTC -1.79%), Sierra Wireless (SWIR), Qualcomm (QCOM -1.75%), and Calamp (CAMP -3.00%) are developing.