Have you ever wondered how much of the Internet is actually around us?
The answer to that is simple: a lot. Back then the internet was something that you could’ve found on a dusty modem and router, or being channeled through the cathode-ray tubing of the earliest, blockiest computers.
Now the internet is everywhere. Most devices you can buy today have internet integration in some way, and we’re constantly finding ways to make our things connected, either to ourselves or each other. Welcome to the Internet of Things.
What Is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things (IoT) came about as we decided to take the “human” out of the requirements to operate a computer. By automating the system we could free the operator for more meaningful tasks, save time, improve operations, and earn more money.
The result is a vast, globally interconnected world of machines, objects, and even living things that can transfer, collect, and process data without having a human involved in the process. And today, it’s everywhere we look: from smart home systems in Draper to cattle farms in Nebraska.
Why Should You Care?
So if it’s everywhere and it’s a natural progression of us trying to make things better, then why should you care?
The answer is simple. It’s because pretty soon, we’ll be living with these systems for the rest of our lives. Innovations in tech have jumped ten times faster in the last few years than in the last ten thousand. We’re constantly being bombarded by newer, better products that can do amazing things. Finally, we’re always searching for a way to make life easier and better for us.
While that may sound like simple grandstanding, it isn’t. IoT can vastly improve living conditions but also save lives. Understanding how it works isn’t for selling new smart TVs and refrigerators. IoT integration helps power our cities, protect our investments, and connect us to our loved ones.
What is Next?
Recent trends have indicated that IoT has the potential to bridge the gap between the inside and outside spaces—our tech in the community or the office to the tech in our homes. This has taken a lot of forms, from smart streetlights that automatically turn off in the morning to self-propelling drones that deliver meals on campus.
You might even be an active player in the world of IoT and not know it. One of the most ubiquitous IoT devices could be laying at your desk or in your hands right now—the smartphone. You’ve probably heard about the mountain of data that it can gather about you just by using it. But what you might not have heard about is how this information gets uploaded to IoT, shaping how it develops and how you interact with it.
It falls to us as responsible users and developers to steer the direction of IoT into something beneficial for all of us. You don’t need to be an R&D developer to contribute because something as small as being aware of the trends in tech and responding to customer feedback can have a huge impact on how IoT develops.
So if the Internet is everywhere, including our things, let’s do our part to make it better for everyone involved.
