The Internet of Things

Can you imagine a world without the Internet? Almost everything we do in our daily activities has some connection with the Internet. According to Culture-ist, there are more than 2 billion people use the Internet to communicate, surfing the web, sharing new feeds on social networks, watching online videos, emailing, playing games, downloading and many other tasks. (Culture-ist 2013) Thus, computers, smartphones and electronic devices have become part of our lives today. Dell describes there will be 70 billion connected devices by 2020, which is 10 web-connected devices per human. (Brancaccio 2014)

Figure 1: Internet Of Things: Connecting (And Disrupting) Your Universe. [Online]

Available <http://www.bidnessetc.com/business/internet-of-things-connecting-and-disrupting-your-universe/>

In the future, every object around us can be connected to the network cheaper and easier. (Coates 2014) Techopedia defines the Internet of Things as: “… a computing concept that describes a future where everyday physical objects will be connected to the Internet and be able to identify themselves to other devices” (Janssen 2014)

However, the concept of the Internet of Things is not just about the Internet. It is just like a huge nervous system, which involves in the connection between physical objects and database networks by bringing together people, data and objects. It is a global platform that links the Web into the physical world by inventing smart devices with embedded identification, sensors or actuation abilities. (Miorandi 2012)  For example, the wearable computing, remote monitoring techniques, self-tracking equipment, wireless sensor networks, autonomous vehicles and many more.  Gruman claims that the Internet of Things is an environment that collects data from multiple devices (computers, automotive, automobile and other devices which contain sensor) and applications (social media apps). (Gruman 2013) This technology offers many benefits to individuals, society, businesses and industries by changing the way we live and work.

Within a few years, Internet will not only be controlled by human beings, but also by machines. Thus, there will be a vast amounts of data need to be collected, analysed and accessed. (Goodwin, 2013) According to Eng, a contributing writer in TED, she describes that the Internet of Things has the possibility to affect the social change. It will become hackable by normal people if the technology is democratized. (Eng, 2014)

This huge volume of data can create privacy risks and identity based attack for the users. According to Ross Anderson, a professor of security engineering at Cambridge University. He claims that the Internet of Things has the “real potential for bad people to do bad things”. (Sonya, 2012)

In my point of view, we are gaining a lot of advantages from this vast analysis of big data, but there are also some risks on giving away our personal data. People should not just focus on the development of new devices but also put more efforts on the privacy protection measures that protect the rights of users worldwide. Finally, I would like to end my article with a quote by Alessandro Acquisti. He describes that:

“Imagine a future in which strangers around you will look at you through their Google Glasses or, one day, their contact lenses, and use seven or eight data points about you to infer anything else which may be know about you. What will this future without secrets look like?” (Acquisti, 2013)

Video 1: Alessandro Acquisti: What will a future without secrets look like? [Video file]. 

Retrieved from <http://www.ted.com/talks/alessandro_acquisti_why_privacy_matters?language=en>

REFERENCES:

 

Image:

Bidnessetc.com, (2014). Internet Of Things: Connecting (And Disrupting) Your Universe. [Online]
Available <http://www.bidnessetc.com/business/internet-of-things-connecting-and-disrupting-your-universe/> (9 Nov, 2014)

Video:

Acquisti, Alessandro. (2013, June). Alessandro Acquisti: What will a future without secrets look like? [Video file]. Retrieved from <http://www.ted.com/talks/alessandro_acquisti_why_privacy_matters?language=en> (9 Nov, 2014)

Information:

Diehn, Sonya: ‘‘Internet of Things’ holds promise, but sparks privacy concerns’ 2012 [Online] Available <http://www.dw.de/internet-of-things-holds-promise-but-sparks-privacy-concerns/a-15911207> (9 Nov, 2014)

Eng, Karen: ‘What’s next for the Internet of Things?’ 2014 [Online] Available < http://ideas.ted.com/2014/10/02/whats-next-for-the-internet-of-things/> (9 Nov, 2014)

Goodwin, Bill: ‘CW500: The rise of the machines – how devices are taking over the Internet’ 2013 [Online] Available <http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240202706/The-rise-of-the-machines-how-devices-are-taking-over-the-internet> (9 Nov, 2014)

Gruman, Galen: ‘What the ‘Internet of Things’ Really means’ 2013 [Online] Available <http://www.infoworld.com/article/2614262/consumerization-of-it/what-the--internet-of-things--really-means.html> (9 Nov, 2014)

Coates, Tom: ‘In Praise of Boring Objects’ 2014 [Online] Available https://medium.com/product-club/in-praise-of-boring-objects-379216903543 (9 Nov, 2014)

Janssen, Cory: ‘Internet of Things’ 2014 [Online] Available <http://www.techopedia.com/definition/28247/internet-of-things-iot> (9 Nov, 2014)

Miorandi, Daniele: ‘Ad Hoc Networks’ [Online] 2012 Available <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570870512000674> (9 Nov, 2014)

Brancaccio, David: ‘By 2020, there will be 10 web-connected devoces per human’ 2014 [Online] Available <http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/2020-there-will-be-10-web-connected-devices-human> (9 Nov, 2014)

Culture-ist: ‘More Than 2 Billion People Use the Internet, Here’s What They’re Up To (INFOGRAPHIC)’ 2013 [Online] Available <http://www.thecultureist.com/2013/05/09/how-many-people-use-the-internet-more-than-2-billion-infographic/> (9 Nov, 2014)