The IoT and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
From the very beginning, humans have had a complicated relationship with the gods. Olympic deities, it turns out, could be generous and supportive but also harsh and destructive. Mythology often depicts them meddling with human lives not because they are wise but because of their own selfish reasons.
Prometheus however, was the son of the Titan Iapetus by Clymene, one of the Oceanids. As the story goes, Prometheus, whose name means “forethought” felt pity for humanity, defied the Olympian gods’ commands, and courageously stole fire from their realm and bestowed it upon humankind. In doing so, we were gifted with technology, knowledge, and the foundation of civilization itself.
Despite facing harsh punishment for his rebellion, Prometheus can take comfort in the significant progress and advancements humanity has achieved with his gift. Fire, symbolizing technology and knowledge, sparked innovation that has profoundly shaped the trajectory of civilization. Over the ages, humans have skillfully harnessed fire to cook food, craft tools and weapons, offer warmth and light, drive industrial processes, and catalyze scientific breakthroughs.
Towards a Brighter Future
The 1st Industrial Revolution marked a profound shift, introducing steam-powered machinery and mass production. This transition from agrarian to industrial society revolutionized manufacturing and shaped the modern world. It set the stage for a dynamic transformation, where steam-powered innovation and mass production took center stage. It was a game-changer that revolutionized industries and propelled society into the modern era — cue the opening theme of 2001 Space Odyssey.
In the 2nd Industrial Revolution, electricity and assembly lines brought unprecedented efficiency, transforming urbanization and bolstering economic growth. Innovations like telegraphs and steel production further propelled progress. Electricity surged, assembly lines streamlined, cities electrified. Steel behemoths rose, telegraphs connected, engines accelerated, creating a mobilized society where communications thrived and innovation flourished.
The 3rd Industrial Revolution ushered in the digital age, with computers, digitization, and the internet as its pillars. This interconnected global network accelerated information flow and led to a surge in technological advancements. Computers proliferated, digitization soared and the internet unleashed information, globalization and advanced automation. As a result, tech boomed, virtual realms expanded, data-driven decisions prevailed and Elon Musk turned Twitter into X.
Enter Industry 4.0
The 4th Industrial Revolution builds on the progress of previous industrial advancements. 4IR is characterized by cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and blockchain. Being built all around us, these innovations enable cyber-physical systems, quantum computing, and transformative applications in various fields like smart cities and biotechnology.
Most of us initially encountered our first smart device in the form of a smartphone. But the world of smart technology has expanded exponentially since then. Now we have, (as a small example), smartphones, smart watches, smart cars, smart thermostats, doorbells, refrigerators, and glasses. At 15.4 billion devices and growing, worldwide there is an ever-increasing number of everyday devices and objects that connect to the internet, gather and transmit data between devices and the cloud, as well as between various devices themselves.
Remember Skynet?
Created by Cyberdyne Systems for SAC-NORAD in Terminator (1984), Skynet was a neural network based conscious group mind and artificial general superintelligence system. And while there is today an actual Skynet at skynetdotcom, it is doubtful, depending on who you talk to, that it will in future decide that humans are the enemy.
Defense network computers. New, powerful, hooked into everything, trusted to run it all. They say it got smart, a new order of intelligence. Then it saw all people as a threat, not just the ones on the other side. Decided our fate in a microsecond: extermination. Kyle Reese, Terminator (1984)
In any case, the interval between now and a possible future human mass extinction promises to be a time of incredible advancements in connectivity and technological integration. From smart buildings to self-driving vehicles, the IoT has vast potential to change the way we work and live.
Intelligent Machines
The Oxford English Dictionary defines intelligence as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. IoT devices are intelligent in that they are designed to gather data from interactions and use machine learning algorithms to modify responses and tailor experiences to individual preferences. This adaptability enhances user satisfaction and paves the way for more personalized and efficient technology interactions.
Health AI, for example, analyzes vast medical data to improve diagnosis accuracy and treatment plans, enabling personalized and targeted care. AI aids in pre-operative planning, robotic assistance, and predictive analytics, leading to safer, more efficient procedures and better patient recovery. IoT devices gather real-time patient data, supporting remote monitoring and enhancing patient outcomes. The combination of AI and IoT, with streamlined workflows and insights will ultimately enhance the quality of care provided to patients.
Enter Citadel Hardware Wallet
The IoT is also set to revolutionize how we store personal records and assets, transact and communicate with electronic devices and sensors. It will introduce new levels of convenience, security and accessibility. For Citadelians this will not only mean a wider array of devices and device capabilities in Citadel Wallet’s future, but conversely, will also generate a greater need for Citadel Wallet’s CC EAL 6+ rating providing peace of mind in the defense against committed hackers.
With our lives more connected than ever before in human history, and financial and personal data exchanged among interconnected devices, the potential and the impact of a successful cyber attack becomes immense. As we allow IoT devices access to sensitive aspects of our lives, security and privacy will be crucial to users and firm control over data will be essential. Hedera, as the trust layer of the internet and as a uniquely scaleable, enterprise-grade platform is poised to take the inside track in terms of adoption. Having already proven its peerless capabilities with the successful distribution and tracking of the COVID-19 vaccine, it is not inconceivable to extrapolate out a few years to when all our assets and all our data are housed on the network.
Hedera’s consensus mechanism, governed by a diverse council of highly trusted industry leaders, ensures that no single entity can manipulate the network, instilling confidence in both users and enterprises. This decentralized governance model safeguards against potential cyber threats, creating a resilient ecosystem for the IoT applications.
Hedera’s scalable architecture allows for seamless handling of vast data streams generated by interconnected devices and the new attack vectors it creates. As the IoT expands to encompass billions of more devices with more access to our lives, Hedera’s throughput capability becomes indispensable in managing the flood of data while maintaining real-time responsiveness. With Hedera’s distributed ledger technology at the core, the exchange of financial transactions, personal information, and sensitive data between IoT devices will be fortified by its advanced security protocols. As the IoT landscape continues to evolve, Hedera will provide the foundation for a secure and interconnected world. Citadel Wallet, in its commitment to full service Hedera network, will be the final line of defense in keeping all of your assets and information secure and untampered. Citadel Wallet will also lay the groundwork for many more secure IoT applications and devices coming to Hedera in the future.
For managing highly critical information, like the COVID-19 vaccine’s temperature, Hedera Hashgraph provides us immutable trust at the speed required for our IoT devices.” Tom Screen, Co-Founder at Everyware (2021)
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