Are you ready for the Internet of Things?

Imagine a world where your car could notify you of the closest auto repair store the second your engine encounters an issue. Imagine if your refrigerator could tell you while you’re at the store what your fridge is lacking. Or, even better, imagine a world where we could manage the earth’s natural resources in an advanced digital matter, telling us exactly how much we have left.

In reality, we’re already starting to live in this kind of world. When the internet started taking force around the world, only desktop computers and industrial-style super computers were connected to the Internet. Now, everything from our cell phones to our automobiles are linked together online. This revolution is called the Internet of Things, or simply IoT.

The IoT has a very literal meaning. It is connecting things (yes, actual things such as chair, clothes and lamps) to the Internet wirelessly, creating a massive cloud-based environment. By connecting everything to the Internet we can access the things we use every day, which in turn simplifies our lives.

We have already seen smart devices taking over the technological world. Smartphones are practically ubiquitous and smart TVs are found in homes all across the world. We’re even getting to the point where we make the things we wear “smart.” The Apple Watch was a huge hit in 2015, with sales estimating to be around 30 million in its first year of release. Other tech companies such as Samsung and Motorola have also used their smart watches to cash in on the IoT trend. In addition to watches, we’re seeing smart washers and dryers, smart cars, and even smart houses.

So how does all of this work? In order to connect everything to the Internet, each “thing” needs an IP address, just like your computer. In other words, by giving every item we use a unique address to connect to the internet, each thing can gather data, provide us with useful information and even think for itself.

Should having every thing we use have Internet capabilities worry us? IoT expert Dr. John Barrett doesn’t think so. He predicts that by 2030, each person on Earth will be surrounded by 3,000 to 5,000 connected things. He believes that by using IoT to our advantage, we will see groundbreaking discoveries in healthcare, energy distribution and city management. He doesn’t think the intense technology curve will be an issue, either. He made the point that a 10-year-old can manage an iPad much more efficiently than someone in their 50s. The upcoming generation will embrace the Internet of Things since that’s the only way of life they know.

The Internet of Things is an absolute breakthrough in technology. Although the quirks are still to be refined and polished, the final product of the IoT should enhance our lives in the sense that we won’t have to waste time doing the mundane everyday tasks. In a broader sense, the IoT could actually be a solution to resource management and healthcare around the world. It may even save lives.

We’re already seeing the IoT in our daily lives, but experts predict that by 2020, we will have four Internet-enabled devices for every person on the planet. Whether you’re skeptical or excited, let it be known that the IoT is here to stay and moving forward at a brisk pace.

Colten is a senior at USU studying technical writing and computer science. He enjoys exploring technology, geeking out while writing code, and exploring new startups.

— coltenvantussenbrook@gmail.com