Get a head start on the next tech boom by hacking together tomorrow’s Internet of things hit today 7 cheap computing boards for scratching your maker itch The Internet of things is beginning to see practical results as it evolves along three paths: machine-to-machine communications, smart systems, and the ad hoc IoT of home automation systems. Underlying this trend is a new generation of embedded systems -- and the imaginations of IT pros and hobbyists alike, kindled by the availability of cheap boards and sensors. Inventive hacks of the popular Raspberry Pi, for example, are solving IT problems on the cheap. And while not every idea sparked by these components and computing devices will fall under the heading of IoT, scratching the itch to tinker will lead to deeper insights into what may come. Following are several board options for hobbyists, developers, and IT pros to consider for their next invention.