The internet: arguably the most vital resource we have in today’s
Except the internet of things has been here since the very beginning.
The internet of things, coined by Kevin Ashton of MIT’s Auto-ID center in 1999, is the concept that any device that can be turned on or off can be connected to the internet. While some examples are obvious- cell phones, computers, video game consoles, and the like- some everyday appliances and household features are gaining internet connectivity. If you’re able to remotely start your car, change the thermostat, or begin brewing a pot of coffee, congratulations- your device is a part of the vast internet of things.
However, the internet of things is far more than laptops and smart ovens. It also includes things that have been tagged for internet usage, by way of QR codes or RFID (radio-frequency identification), among other methods. Once these tagged items are scanned, they are part of the internet of things. This means that anything from a historical monument plaque to your dog (once their ID chip is scanned), can be found online.
In the coming years, the internet of things will become especially vital for many businesses. According to TechTarget, companies that use IoT in their workplaces experience greater productivity, lower costs, new revenue channels, and a better overall experience for the consumer. Furthermore, companies that do adopt such tech find it absolutely vital and critical to “digital transformation.”
One of these industries is an odd one, but ultimately logical: the farming industry. Irish company Dairymaster is responsible for many devices used in milking parlors, ranging from milking equipment to cooling tanks. They’re also responsible for the MooMonitor, a wireless sensor that can detect the overall health and fertility of a herd of cows before transmitting the information back to the farmer via an app. Says CEO of Dairymaster and creator of the MooMonitor, Dr. Edmond Harty, “[it’s] exactly the same type of technology as is coming out the ‘wearable’ companies in Silicon Valley, but we do a lot more. It takes three million readings a day from a single cow.”
As for the consumer, paper might just be the next hot commodity in the
The internet is going to continue to evolve so long as we focus on developing technology. While it’s highly unlikely that we’ll have implants allowing us to browse Google by blinking anytime soon, going “off the gird” will be increasingly difficult. After all, anything can be a mobile hotspot. You just have to get creative.