The Future: Internet of Things

Bringing Life into the Inanimate!

What is Internet of Things?
Right now, the Internet of Things (IoT) is truly just an emerging idea with endless possibilities. Simply put, it is a conceptual, harmonic future where all things (including people) live in complete synchronicity with all other things (electronics, appliances, other people) at all times.

Metaphorically speaking, IoT is a world (a giant, programmable wireless network of Internet-connected “things” world) that we are already in the process of acclimating ourselves to.

Contrary to what others may think, we have barely scratched the surface as to what we are actually truly capable of accomplishing. In fact, most technologists would agree that we still reside somewhere within the early stages of IoT. Sure, on a daily basis, large groups of “things” (people) find themselves connecting with other groups of “things” (people via Internet, smart technology, and computers). But, IoT consists of so much more than what we are currently doing.

Where are we right now with the Internet of Things evolution?
It may seem like light-years away before we have a true IoT world, but we are actually making pretty good headway despite some barriers. For years, we’ve been connecting objects to the same wireless network. Plus, thanks to Smart Home technology and Smartphones, perceiving an object as “smart” no longer feels farfetched. In fact, nearly 700 million smartphones were shipped just last year, and statistics show that more than half of all homes in North America will be “smart” by the year 2021. Sure, we have a long ways to go, but at least the concept is growing.

Also, we’ve got GPS and other location-based apps, that now give us the power to pinpoint our exact location, and that knowledge has transformed our lives immeasurably. For instance, we can now enter an airport that we’ve never been in before and find our way to our favorite restaurant without hesitation. Our children are safer now, too, because we have been given the ability to monitor them from afar without taking away their feeling of freedom. In today’s world, you have to admit, it’s pretty darn hard to get lost. Now, most of us would agree, that’s a good thing, right?

What are the barriers keeping us from obtaining an Internet of Things world?
Most theorists believe that the number one thing holding us back from activating a full-fledged IoT existence is fear. We fear for our loss of privacy, control and security. Also, it can be quite challenging for people to imagine a world like IoT. After all, how interconnected can one possibly become with “things”, right?

What would life be like if we lived in an IoT world completely?
It would be a world where everything evolved around the location of individuals and his/her pre-set preferences. It would be a world where you would receive a coupon for a grocery item the moment you walked by it. If you were walking through an art museum, your phone would interpret the paintings as you paused in front of them. If you were meeting a friend in a large store, you would be able to track them on your phone and know what aisle to find them. Your groceries would be programmed to self-order and redeliver upon depletion. When you arrive to the office, you would find that your secretary already knew you were coming. It would most likely be a world of truth, free of crime, because let’s face it…no one is going to get away with it. Of course, everyone would live in a smart home: all household appliances and electronics would rely on one another, and simple actions would be carried out without human intervention.

In many ways, living in an Internet of Things world sounds like a pretty exciting, easier way to live. On the other hand, I can see why there are still skeptics milling around, not yet on board with the idea of forfeiting their privacy. Most people will agree…now doesn’t seem like a good time for everyone in the world to know where everyone else is in the world…at all times of the day, right? However, I don’t think anything is wrong with passing the chore torch down to your household inanimate objects. After all, let’s make it our homes’ responsibility to ensure we have a smooth life. Now, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing, would it?

Ask Custom Audio Video about how we can help bring life into the inanimate!