  COVID-19 has disrupted normal life and has enforced a substantial change in
the policies, priorities and activities of individuals, organisations and
governments. These changes are proving to be a catalyst for technology and
innovation. In this paper, we discuss the pandemic's potential impact on the
adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in various broad sectors namely
healthcare, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, transportation and
industrial IoT. Our perspective and forecast of this impact on IoT adoption is
based on a thorough research literature review, a careful examination of
reports from leading consulting firms and interactions with several industry
experts. For each of these sectors, we also provide the details of notable IoT
initiatives taken in wake of COVID-19. We also highlight the challenges that
need to be addressed and important research directions that will facilitate
accelerated IoT adoption.
