Follow up post: The Internet of Things
Thank you to all that attended yesterdays session for your input and discussion around the IoT. What is the ‘Internet of things’ is; how it is achieved; how it is used today and how it could be used in the future?
The three revolutions
We discussed two key revolutions that have occurred in human history, which have moulded and shaped society, these are: the industrial revolution and the internet revolution.
The industrial revolution began in 1760, resulting in the introduction of mass manufacture where new, innovative machinery was introduced, allowing for faster production of goods. By 1829, the ‘Rocket’ locomotive was introduced for better and faster transport of these manufactures good. Employment in society shifted from agriculture to manufacture.
Many years later came the internet revolution, which started in 1940 with the Memex. This revolution was discussed in detail with Dr James Sumner within the Internet Topic. Similar to the industrial revolution, the internet revolution has changed how we, as a society, function daily. We are a more connected society that is almost dominated by the internet where the Internet plays a crucial part in all aspects of life, whether that be our social or professional lives.
So what now?
No we find ourselves in an entirely new revolution. At the end of the Internet revolution we have found ourselves in the era of ‘The Internet of Things’ . But what exactly is the internet of things? Well…
‘The network of physical objects- devices, vehicles, buildings and other items- embedded with electronics, software, sensors and network connectivity that enables these objects to collect and exchange data.’
So, basically, the internet of things is when physical, everyday objects (such as a watch, a car or even a fridge!) gain the ability to collect and share data. This has been made possible by the cheap manufacturing of smaller and more powerful sensors. This ultimately allows data to be collected, which results in product knowledge, which leads to product wisdom. This ‘wisdom’ is the essence of ‘The internet of things’.
Not only is this revolution shaping society just as much as the prior two revolutions, but it is also occurring at a much faster rate. Changes are being implemented constantly. The internet of things is having a huge effect on how we live our lives and how businesses are run. In fact, it is estimated to be a $457.29 billion industry by 2025.
Whether it be a smart meter, a fit bit, an Amazon echo or a smart TV, we are incorporating these new technologies into our home. Because of this, more data is being collected on us that ever before.
But is this a good thing or a bad thing?
What we have learnt here is that there is definitely an argument for both sides.
Today, we discussed the possible future that can result from the introduction of the Internet of Things. Whilst half of the room discussed the possibility of a Utopia, others discussed a possible Dystopia. Here are the submissions below:
Utopia
These articles point out the possibility of how the ‘Internet of Things’ can lead to smart homes, smart hospitals, smart cars and even smart retail. Smart homes could allow every aspect of the home, such as the lights, the heating and the electronics, to be controlled from a single device. Not only would this be cost effective but it would also be eco-friendly, as we are more conscious of what energy is being used in our houses. This easier control over the home could benefit the elderly or people with physical disabilities. Smart hospitals could entail multitudes of data being collected from an individual quickly to allow for better, faster healthcare. This could definitely be beneficial in terms of strains on the NHS, waiting times could drop and hospital staff may have a reduced work load.
The internet of things will result in a greater amount of automation within a workforce, although there are arguments about job losses, it is possible that this automation can reduce occupational hazards to staff and increase productivity.
It is clear that there are multiple possible advantages to the internet of things. However, we need to ensure that people fully understand how these devices work and how they can benefit them. Education of what the internet of things can provide may reduce fear of the unknown and will allow people to gain the skills needed to be employed in an IoT industry.
One of the main concerns addressed by these groups is the idea of product relevance and longevity. Production of these devices is extremely costly, therefore, we need to ensure that the product will stay relevant within the market long enough for the cost of production to be worth it.
Dystopia
One of the main concerns with the introduction of IoT is the idea that everything around us is collecting data, even without our knowledge. For example, the Amazon Echo must consistently listen to its surroundings to ensure it responds when somebody says ‘Alexa’. Does that mean our conversations aren't private? Is data being collected and used based on what we say in the comfort of our own homes? And, ultimately, will the further implementation of these devices result in the complete loss of privacy within society?
As well as loss of privacy, this constant collection of data can result in dictation of our lives. Our habits, movements and even our diets are stored on our devices and in the cloud. It is possible that in the future these devices will become accustomed to our daily routines and adjust accordingly. Our lives could start to be controlled by everyday objects without us realising.
With more data being collected, there is also the concern about this data security being compromised. As we've seen in the past, it is possible for hackers to gain access to data stored by big businesses. Information such as bank details or passwords have been acquired, leaving many customers concerned about their privacy.
Lastly, there is an economic concern with an IoT society. As automation increases, will large corporations reduce their manual labour and replace them with machines? And if so, what will become of unskilled labour? Whilst there is an argument that other types of jobs may become available, these jobs may require a certain skill set and qualifications. For example, data analyst jobs may become more common. It is doubtful that companies will pay to train their previous unskilled labour to be trained in these areas? So what will become of them?
Internet of Things presentation slides
Digital Society Internet of Things podcast
What do you think about the Internet of Things?
Please leave your comments below on what you thought of the session, we’d love to see what ideas you have!
Please email digisoc@manchester.ac.uk with any questions or problems.
