Conversations are going on all around you and you might not know about it. Feels unnerving, doesn’t it? But the reality is that this has been the case since the Internet first exploded into our everyday lives.
Nowadays, however it is not just our computers that are engaging in this dialogue but our devices too and not just the obvious ones we have become used to like smart phones.
Wearable devices like fitbits or smart watches are becoming more and more common and other everyday items have joined the online conversation, like speakers (think the Amazon Echo), surveillance cameras, and even smart thermostats like the Nest Thermostat.
By transmitting information over the Internet these smart devices can provide a service that up until a few years back was solely dependent on humans.
The Machines Will Replace Us
Well, not explicitly but in a way implicitly. Until now, the Internet as we have thought of it can be thought of as an Internet of People. It used to be that the majority of the information on the Internet came from people e.g. typing information in, uploading a video, or scanning a barcode.
But with the number of smart transmittable devices that has all changed. Nowadays a smart device can upload information to the Internet without the need for human interaction, hence the term ‘The Internet of Things’.
It is a conversation we can certainly overhear and even partake in but as far as facilitating the chatter between mediums, there is no longer a need for us.
An Efficient World
So what do all these devices transmitting data via the Internet do for us? Well, technology is primarily used to enhance our lives and it is no different with the Internet of Things. These smart devices can provide benefits in nearly every aspect of our lives, from devices in the home that can be used to make our everyday living easier to practical applications in industries like transportation and agriculture.
Who wouldn’t love a house that effortlessly controlled the temperature or a car that notified you when your oil was low or your tire pressure waning?
And this is just the beginning. The Internet of Things market is predicted to more than double that of the smartphone, PC, tablet, connected car, and wearable market combined in just a few more years. This incredible growth highlights just how much the Internet of Things is becoming a crucial part of the global economy.
Source: Cisco
Devices that make up the Internet of Things add value to our lives in numerous ways by increasing efficiency and accuracy. Human error is inescapable and for the most part smart devices are exponentially more accurate at completing a wide variety of tasks – and they can do them much more quickly. Lest we forget the role a lack of time plays in influencing our everyday decisions as when it boils down to it people would much rather be spending their precious time on more enjoyable things.
Only time will tell what long term effect the IoT will have on the world but the statistics look very promising. In the short term, trillions of dollars in value are expected to be added to the global economy as the Internet of Things becomes more and more integrated into our lives. A future of automation is upon us.
