Internet all the Things!
For the uninitiated, Internet of Things or IoT, might sound futuristic. But the concept that ordinary things can be centrally controlled by a computer isn’t new, and science fiction has long shown us the ups and downs of inhabiting a world of sentient objects.
What science fiction writers can conceive, inventors and entrepreneurs can often achieve. Flip through any crowdfunding platform, and you'll find a variety of “smart” devices, ranging from a lens that can throw images of your child’s picture book on the ceiling for relaxed bedtime reading to a smart alarm clock that slowly brings the lights up in your bedroom, simulating sunrise. If desired, that same alarm clock can also start your coffee brewing, your toaster to toasting, and display your day’s agenda on any handy screen or blank wall surface.
It doesn’t end there. With the right software, you can track the location of your briefcase, your keys, your pets and your children. Install cameras, and you can check on your home without leaving the office. Most new vehicles have on board navigation that links up to satellites, and many have safety features that detect when your vehicle is approaching another too closely or is deviating from the roadway. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the broad variety of fitness and medical devices with access to our most personal biometrics.
Because every dog needs its own Fitbit
The Internet part is revealed when one realizes that not only do these multitudinous devices interact with their owner, they interact with other devices. Your smart car has GPS tracking, which is interacting with communications satellites. When you tag your personal possessions, pets and family members, that data is fed into cloud databases. Even your toaster and coffeemaker – if they're programmed to interact with other electronic devices – have the potential to be accessed remotely.
The biggest issues with the Internet of Things are security and privacy. Should advertising companies be allowed access to information that is programmed into your toaster? How about the time that you get up in the morning and how long you'll be away from home – should that be accessible information? If you can track your child and your pet, then there's a good chance that someone else could also track them.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should
Any technology can be used for good or nefarious purposes, but it's important to be aware of the tradeoffs we make when we invite it into our lives. It's also important to understand the current limitations, and also the ways our acquiescence and data could be repurposed with the right court order. You're reading those application terms & conditions statements, right?
~ Andy Westmoreland, Frontend Developer and Tech Doomsayer
