Our world is being transformed by smart devices. If you have been entrenched in tech news at all recently then you have no doubt heard of the term Internet of Things, or IoT.
The term IoT refers to a gradual trend towards internet-connected devices that will become part of every sphere of our lives. In a grand sense, it is the hope that almost every practical everyday item will have some method of connecting to the internet and communicating with other devices.
We can already see evidence of such progress in the evolution of our smartphones and introduction of smart home devices.
Interconnectedness is the new normal
There is also the proliferation of AI-powered personal assistants like the Google Home and Amazon Alexa that point to a general trend regarding IoT. In recent years, we have witnessed the idea of a smart home go from fictional to nonchalant reality. We are experiencing an amazing technological revolution in real time and can only hope to benefit from the phasic shift.
However, the experience is a visceral one as we interact and conform to fit the amorphous dynamism of this new technology. In this article, we are going to explore how devices are changing and being made to fit into the grand scheme of the Internet of Things.
Smartphones are getting smarter
Our smartphones are already large parts of our lives, whether we like that fact or not. Recently, smartphones have become even more robust thanks to the integration of AI enabled assistants and greater processing speed.
Take, for instance, the Sony XZ2 which uses a QUALCOMM CPU courtesy of the Snapdragon 845. It also has the ability to capture HDR and will boast a waterproof case on top of this. In addition to those features, however, it also has some specific features directed at furthering the internet connection trend.
The new phones will feature advanced Bluetooth technology and active GPS which will allow for the conditional sharing of information in the hopes that we all contribute an endless stream of data into the cloud for the purposes of research and marketing.
While some have concerns, and rightfully so, this could mean that the advancement of such devices will increase mightily in the face of metric tons of data. This provision does not always strike the right chord, but will, in time, show itself to be an invaluable tool.
Same thing in a new way
The most exciting progression of our devices, however, is in the realm of the mundane. The evolution of our doorbells and light bulbs has sparked an incredible question as to how far IoT technology can go. These new features shake up our old views on the previously dull.
Philips has released a line of lights called Hue that can be controlled with your smartphone or smart assistant. The Ecobee4 has turned our thermostats into miniature computers that can be controlled with your smartphone. The August Smart Lock has added interconnectivity to our door locks and can be, unsurprisingly, controlled with your smartphone.
It is, actually surprisingly, in this realm of home devices that we see the greatest example of the Internet of Things. We have devices that control individual things all working in concert with our computers and phones to share data and interact. This is the nutshell regarding IoT, all our devices working in tandem over the internet.
Conclusion
The future, and beyond, seems filled with the endless possibilities that our technology provides as the growth of IoT technology is far past the point of return.
The devices mentioned are only the tip of this rather gargantuan iceberg that seeks to disrupt how we understand the world. We will, in a sense, be a part of an ongoing experiment for, seemingly, the rest of our lives.
The technology today does not only push the boundaries of what we thought possible but, moves us further to a truly connected world.
A world filled with equal access to the internet across the globe and a litany of other technological marvels that provide access, and furthermore opportunity, to all people. If there is a definitive upside to this revolution it is that we are finally heading to what seems like a place of truly limitless potential for everyone.
About the author: Charles Dearing is a veteran tech and marketing journalist with over 15 years of experience using words to move people to act. He has written for various publications such as ProBlogger, Big Think, Apps World, to name a few.
Edited by
Ken Briodagh
