“Today computers — and, therefore, the Internet — are almost wholly dependent on human beings for information. The problem is, people have limited time, attention and accuracy — all of which means they are not very good at capturing data about things in the real world. If we had computers that knew everything there was to know about things — using data, they gathered without any help from us — we would be able to track and count everything.”
Kevin Ashton, cofounder and executive director of the Auto-ID Centre at MIT
A VERY brief history
The idea of a network of smart devices was discussed as early as 1982, with a Cola vending machine becoming the first internet-connected application, able to produce a report based on how much inventory was left and if newly added drinks were cold.
The term was first created in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, a British businessman whilst working at Auto-ID Labs. In which he referred to a global network of objects being connected through radio frequency identification. Today, the internet of things has advanced in connectivity with mobile devices and systems that goes beyond to just machine to machine.
What is, The Internet of things?
This is basically a concept of connecting any device to the internet to each other. This includes everything from mobile phones, coffee makers, washing machines, headphones, lamps, almost anything that can be connected through the internet. By 2020 there will be over 26 billion connected devices, however some have even estimated that this number could be over 100 billion.
Overall the internet of things is principally a giant electronic network. This can extend between people-people, people-things, and things-things.
How does this impact you?
Anything that can be connected, will be connected. But what is the reason to get your connected devices to talk to each other? If your more connected you could be more efficient, for example say you are on your way to a meeting and your car has access to your calendar and you know the best route to take. If the traffic is heavy, then a text could be sent to inform your colleagues that you’ll be late. What if you wake up in the morning and your alarm clock connects to your coffee maker to tell it to start brewing?
Connected technology has the power to help you become more resourceful, making your life even easier.
A security issue?
There are fears that the internet of things is being developed rapidly without consideration of the security involved. In 2014, 39% of the respondents in a business survey said that security is the biggest concern in connected technology. In particular, as the Internet of Things spreads widely, cyber-attacks are likely to become an increasingly physical (rather than simply virtual) threat.
The future
What will the future bring? Are we moving more into science reality than fiction? Dex the PS4 boxed release from Dreadlocks studios aims to show us a world where hacking, cyber security and augmented reality is the now not the future. The game is designed as a tribute to the classic RPGs from the ‘90s, updated for a modern audience, Dex invites you to become part of a living, breathing cyberpunk universe.
About Dex
Discover the truth behind an enigmatic AI striving to reach the Singularity, a theoretical “event horizon” in which artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence and all bets about the future will be off. How will you play your part in the story? Explore the futuristic city of Harbor Prime and meet its many inhabitants, answer the challenges the city has to offer, roam the neon-lit streets, and augment your character with skills and implants.