The Internet of Things (IoT). Such a simple term that encapsulates today’s increasingly complex, interconnected world. From RFID chips to the many devices we interact with daily, this spider web of things has huge implications. It’s estimated that the number of devices connected to the Internet will increase ten-fold within the next 15 years, all potentially sharing information with each other—that’s a lot of data flying around!
The Earth Is Becoming One Big Information System
Just as flight made our world both smaller and more accessible, the Internet of Things is transforming the planet into one big information system. While that may sound creepy, imagine the possibilities! Cars able to communicate with each other to optimize the morning commute, homes with the ability to sense a fire next door and turn off the gas main, all the way down to your fridge alerting you in real time when your milk is about to go bad—a far cry from visions of a Matrix-like dystopian future.
Think Outside the Box
Along with the increase in data, the demand placed on systems designed to interpret it will also grow exponentially. Indeed, those who possess the ability to make sense of it all stand to gain a significant advantage. The Internet of Things is poised to revolutionize the way we interact with each other and our surroundings, its scope is certainly not limited to large corporations and government entities. Even your local mom-and-pop corner store can benefit from this disruptive technology. Who’s to say that some enterprising start-up won’t begin to aggregate this data, develop a great UI, and give mom and pop the information they need to drive sales and gain customers? With all that said, are you prepared for the future?
