This coming year promises to offer geeks a plethora of new technology to get excited about, from hot new Apple products to virtual reality headsets and beyond. But 2016 could also very well be the year when the Internet of Things forces its way into our homes and lives.
Coined by a British entrepreneur in 1999, the Internet of Things refers to a network of gadgets, gizmos and electronic thing-a-ma-jigs that are connected online and to each other, creating improved efficiency and benefits for users. In simpler terms, it’s all the stuff in your life that connects to the Internet. Where once we just had our computers dialling up to the online world, today we have a ton of devices that talk to each other and the Internet 24/7. And I’m not just talking about your smartphone. Think about it. Right now there are baby monitors and cameras, fitness watches, cars, home thermostats and alarm systems, printers and more, all connected to the Internet, uploading data or being monitored and controlled remotely. But it’s all just the tip of the Internet of Things iceberg.
Imagine a fridge that knows when it is running low on milk, so it adds the item to your smartphone shopping list, or even sends that list to the grocery store ahead of you so the groceries are just waiting for you in bags ready to be purchased. There’s been talk of this kind of “smart home” for years, but as more and more devices get online connectivity, that digital dream is coming closer to reality.
Of course, this automated, efficient and connected future paradise isn’t without its problems. Where there is more data, there is more probability of privacy issues. Already we’ve seen hackers prove they can break into a car’s onboard computer system and shut the vehicle down remotely while it’s driving. And we’ve also seen how easily hackers can access those baby cameras and home security feeds… well, mostly when users are too lazy or technically inept to change the default password to something more secure.
But there are also problems with tech companies failing to encrypt users’ data as it streams, or provide a means for better security. Just recently the kids’ electronic toy company VTech had a massive hack that may have included pictures and videos of children from their toys, as well as their addresses, according to some news sources. That’s pretty scary.
But regulators and lawmakers are already concerned about how far and how fast online connectivity will alter our lives and are already introducing legislature and policy around things like those self-driving cars that are soon to hit the market. Self-driving cars! That’s some serious future tech right there. When do I get my laser gun and adorable robot sidekick? But imagine some malicious hacker breaking into a self-driving car’s system and taking control? Scarier and scarier.
Despite our fears, the Internet of Things is coming. Looking at articles about what’s on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas right now, I’ve seen mention of tons of new connected products ranging from ingenious to pointless – like the tech umbrella that can text your smartphone to let you know it’s going to rain and you’ve left it behind (which, in a place like Squamish that has precipitation nine months out of the year, might be pretty useful).
So buckle up, save your cash and get ready for some bigger steps toward the Internet of Things. It’s going to be an interesting year.
