Researchers have designed the Wi-Fi backscatter, a technology that can connect battery-free devices to Wi-Fi infrastructure.

They're calling the technology first leap to the "Internet of Things" era.

Wi-Fi backscatter is a new communication system that uses radio frequency signals as a power source.

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It also reuses existing Wi-Fi infrastructure to provide Internet connectivity to different modern devices.

Researchers say the Internet of Things will extend connectivity to billions of electronic devices.

The Internet of Things will allow a person wearing a smartwatch or a wearable device to communicate directly with other smart devices.

People can store information about their daily activities and can access this information without requiring any batteries.

This technology uses sensors embedded in everyday objects to help track everything from the amount of food in a refrigerator to the location of your car keys.

Shyam Gollakota from the University of Washington said we must provide connectivity to billions of battery-free devices that will be embedded in everyday objects.

She said they now have the ability to enable Wi-Fi connectivity for devices that consume significantly less power than Wi-Fi typically requires.

Researchers said they looked for specific patters that one can find in all Wi-Fi reflections present in an environment.

They said that Wi-Fi backscatter successfully communicated with a Wi-Fi device at rates of one kilobit per second, which is about two meters between devices.

Further plans for this research includes extending the range of communications to about 20 meters.