Pachube is a website that allows users to upload and share sensor data. It's particularly popular regarding environmental and energy data, as it is an easy way to share realtime data in a format that can be represented visually, such as a graph or chart. Created in 2007 by Usman Haque, it has rapidly developed to become one of the most used websites of its kind, with many different ways of utilising data. For example, data can be posted onto a website such as a blog, or build applications. This makes it a valuable tool for the Internet of Things (IoT).

(See further down for IoT).
Below are screenshots of a feed on Pachube. After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, Pachube became a useful tool in recording damage to the environment such as radiation levels in Fukushima.
WHAT IS THE INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term used to describe representations of objects within the Internet or Internet based structures. Objects or Things, could be phones, televisions, or even thermometers etc. The IoT is how these objects can then be represented within the internet. An example could be keeping track of objects, so if they get lost it is possible to track them and find them again. Another example could be to remotely monitor the usage of lights within a home, so you know when they are switched on/off when you aren't there.