FINAL WORD
“
hundreds of thousands of smart devices like toasters and printers took down major parts of the Internet. There are also major privacy concerns as the data stored on the IOT could be almost all-encompassing. Just as we have all invited microphones and cameras into our homes, the IOT will turn every appliance in your home into a sensor... constantly collecting data on your every move. While you may not care who knows about your home habits, the government certainly might. And it’s a gamechanger when Uncle Sam not only knows how much electricity you’re using, but some bureaucrat a hundred miles away could even turn down the temperature in your home for you. Governmental “climate change” hysteria could mean sometimes having to wear a scarf indoors. However we feel about the IOT, it’s happening. It will be a brave new world of cool new devices. Your home will be “smart” in ways we can only begin to imagine. Your toaster will be talking to your watch, which will be talking to your scale, which will be setting reminders to your fridge. It will be on you, however, to opt for the brussel sprouts instead of the grilled cheese.
Needless to say, the financial impact of this will be massive. There are more than 10 billion devices connected to the Internet today. By 2020, it’s estimated the number will be closer to 30 billion, as home appliances, vehicles, and “wearable tech” (like smartwatches and Fitbits) get connected. Cisco put out a paper in 2013 that states $14 trillion of value is at stake with the IOT, and all the big players in the web space are currently fighting it out to see who can capture the biggest market share. Along with all this innovation and enhanced productivity, there are some downsides to the IOT. A device that is web-enabled is susceptible to hacking. It’s one thing for your PC to get a virus and freeze, it’s another for someone on the other side of the world to be able to remotely take over the steering wheel of your car. The IOT can save lives with wearable medical tech and driverless cars, but there will be opportunities for nefarious actors as well. For example, hackers recently broke into a casino by using an Internet-connected fish tank . And last year, a “botnet” composed of It's one thing for your PC to get a virus and freeze, it's another for someone on the other side of the world to be able to remotely take over the steering wheel of your car.
96 | September 2017
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker