The Internet of Things

Internet of Things: 'A proposed development of the Internet in which everyday objects have internet connectivity, allowing them to send or receive data'*Although the term was coined by Kevin Ashton, back in 1999, it has recently become a popular buzz word and made its way into everyday life. Having an online connection has almost become inextricable from modern life with some people almost feeling a little uncomfortable when they can’t get online.Although many people may not be familiar with the term, on-the-go connectivity, data collecting devices and being able to control household objects remotely is rapidly becoming part of everyday life beyond just computers and mobile phones. The evolution of the smart TVs means that they now come fitted as standard with internet capability enabling users to get online, sync social data and shop through a new platform. Smart watches will also start to change the way in which a simple everyday objects have been transformed for the digital age, now alerting the wearer to potential health risks.With all this data collection, there is growing concern for privacy and to what extent personal information will be able to remain anonymous. There will be enough data on each individual to know not only where they shop online but what time they get home from work, what they ate that evening and what time they got to bed. This level of information will be tracked through digital lighting, heating systems and fridges to streamline life and make modern households and belongings more efficient and convenient. For this, there must be a price to pay and data is that currency.Marketers will also have to adapt to keep up with the change in pace of data collection to ensure, relevant advertising is consistently being delivered. As devices become more intuitive and new objects get connected, the relevance of the advertising served needs to be more in tune with the users than ever; Bombarding users with extraneous information will only push them behind advertising free paywalls and out of brands reach.Cameron’s aim for the UK is to help develop a more health conscious population, smoother transport links as well as address climate change and reduce the nation’s energy bills. Combine this with the development of 5G, although not something we look to be seeing until 2020, and it places a huge dependence on the internet’s role in modern life. Whether or not one has come across the term before, the Internet of Things is prevalent in everyday life and looks to be something that continues to wind itself intrinsically into modern life.2014-03-18 14:47:14 By Charlie Griffin* Oxford English Dictionary Online