The above quotation is one from Steve Jobs, former creative genius behind Apple. When attempting to delve into this week’s topic, I thought what better a starting point than Steve Jobs, he is known for revolutionizing the technologies we have today, after all.
So what exactly is the Internet of things? To be honest with you, I still am not entirely sure. We are surrounded by technologies in our everyday lives that communicate with one another, and with us; and we are okay with this, until we are asked to explain the phenomenon. Which is a lot harder than it looks! Steve Jobs, in one excerpt I read on his vision of what’s to come with technology in the future said, “We're going to be able to ask our computers to monitor things for us, and when certain conditions happen, are triggered, the computers will take certain actions and inform us after the fact.” It’s an interesting concept that every ‘thing’ around us will speak to one another and to us as well.
The ability of RFID tags to transmit information from one technology to another is something will change the way that we experience the world, and that it experiences us! The only issue that I can see with this new technology is people’s privacy: with RFID technology we lose a massive sense of privacy as our actions are consistently being reported back to a greater ‘thing’ that is then processing that information and reporting it to another ‘thing’. It’s all quite mind boggling really!
After delving into the Internet of things this week, I am excited to watch this technological revolution occur around me, and I hope you are too!
Emma, like you, I am also excited to observe the technological revolution occur around me. However, everywhere I research this topic – “The Internet of Things” – there is an undertone of scepticism. Some scholars warn of the dangers inherent in not only having an every growing internet of things, but our increasing reliance on it, as well as dangers in regard to security, privacy and safety. For a broader discussion of this, read this link - http://theconversation.edu.au/the-internet-of-things-this-is-where-were-going-3965
ReplyDeleteI find the Internet of Things a strange concept to get my head around, and while I agree that it is exciting to observe the technological revolution occur. I think I have a bit of scepticism about the whole situation, like the academics that Gabby speaks of. An major issue surrounding the internet today is privacy, and I can only see this as an increasing problem as things start to change.
ReplyDeleteThanks fot the link Gabby. It was an interesting discussion.
The internet of things is a weird concept. But regardless of what the sceptics want to think, it is occurring right now and we have no control of stopping it. Like with any technological innovation there is always going to be the possibilities of negative implications but I believe if this technology is harnessed and used correctly it will have huge positive impacts upon the way we live our lives.
ReplyDeleteI tend to support Corryn's idea. Yes it may have some negatives but it will also have some positives, life-changing positives. Technology advancements always spark these debates, lets face it, we're afraid of the new.
ReplyDeleteIt was in the last week that i updated my iPhone and opted to allow them to monitor my usage behaviours and where-abouts etc. Personally, I'm all for the internet of things, but i'm sure others will beg to differ.