What You Need to Know About the Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (otherwise known as IoT) is on the rise with the development of 5G networks spanning the globe. In case you were wondering, IoT is basically the linking up of all devices in the home to form one consistent network that, these days, is meant to work similarly to the human brain. Everything in the home (or even the workplace) is able to access information via the internet, and connect to all other devices in its vicinity. Some in the tech industry praise this relatively new development, as it has produced major advancements in connectivity speeds, and it has even helped pave the way towards advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).

With all of these advancements, however, there are still major concerns for the safety and security of humanity as a whole. For example, we have driverless cars becoming more and more available to the public. However, these vehicles are:

1. not a perfect design (they can and will still fail to work properly), and
2. may even be hackable.

As for other devices in the home or workplace, there's growing concern for the shrinking ability to have true privacy in one's life. The use of devices such as Alexa and the like are contributing to feelings (as well as a sense of knowing) of constantly being under surveillance, and never truly being free to a private life.

Psychologically, this is obviously not good for us; privacy and personal autonomy are key to having a balanced mental state. It's simply one of the things we need in life. It's made many people want to go off the grid despite the technological advancements being made. This is all in an effort to live a more organic life while the rest of the world slowly lets technology take over, as extreme as that sounds.

As stated in a previously written article, IoT goes hand-in-hand with artificial intelligence to the point where we as a human race are practically infusing ourselves with our devices. All of our recent advancements over the years have become so ingrained into our society and daily living that we wonder how we will ever learn to live without it again. Our phones are an extension of ourselves to the point where if we lose our phones, or accidentally leave them at home as we go off to work or school, we flip out! We are basically allowing ourselves to become that of cyborgs. The recent development of IoT makes all of that a lot bigger; now, our kitchen appliances, televisions, and other home devices will be able to function as our replacement brain, as these are designed for us to delegate even the smallest of tasks (that we should make ourselves do, by the way!) to machines that ordinarily would not have such abilities.

As far as IoT goes, while it is a remarkable advancement in the tech industry, it does bring to mind the need for balance. If this is to work in our favor, my advice to the human race is to not allow ourselves to delegate tasks we do each day to machines to the point of total personal laziness. We are beings built to do things with our lives; we cannot allow the total takeover of technology to the point where we don't even think for ourselves anymore. We will devolve if that happens.

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