Why the Internet of Things is the something to look forward to - Skynet or no Skynet

By now most of us have heard the term the Internet of Things - but how many of us actually know what it means - both in definition and in terms of how it will affect our daily lives. So what is the Internet of Things? The Internet of Things refers to items outside of the usual computer device that are connected to the internet.  This can include wearables like Google Glass, thermostats like Nest, perhaps even your car (think more along the lines of OnStar and Siri integration instead of the computer that works the machinery and parts). It will also allow for greater and more intuitive interactivity between humans and devices (hand gestures will be wider used for example).

The Internet of Things will allow us to connect devices that had no interaction at all before now.  

I for one will love the day when I leave work to my self driving car which sends a message to devices in my home telling them I will be home in 40 minutes and to turn on the air conditioning, the oven, and the lights timed to my arrival.  That is the future I was promised in sci-fi movies and that's what I want to see. It couldn't come soon enough.

In fact Mashable just listed the Internet of Things as one of the 3 new types of digital advertising agencies to watch this year.  The're expecting this area to continue to grow, and there will need to be advertising agencies around who understand what it really means to consumers. And most importantly putting the concept into terms that the average consumer can understand. The possibilities of the Internet of Things are endless.  As is the convenience factor.

Do we need to sacrifice privacy and security for the convenience of the Internet of Things?

There are those, however, who are worried about the amount of privacy and security that could be at risk as the Internet of Things become more and more of a reality. In fact Wired recently published an article discussing just that.  Imagine if your thermostat developed a virus. Would viruses be able to hop from one connected device to another in your home? What would that do to your home environment? Probably create a bit of chaos.  However, as we move into this world, I am certain that security companies will develop anti-virus solutions to protect these devices.  We just need to be prepared for some bumps along the road.

Honestly what worries me most about the security issues associated with the Internet of Things is that there already is a company called Skynet in our world developing Internet of Things platforms ... Yes the Skynet .. As in The Terminator.  Now THAT should freak everybody out.

Illustration: Pat Kinsella: http://www.wired.com/2014/05/iot-report/

We live in an alternate reality - and have been given a bad Apple)...

Okay, well not really - but I do feel lately that I've been pulled into a bad episode of The Outer Limits.... What with the recent Russian and Floridan meteors, and the discovery that the Higgs Boson Particle may actually be a premonition of what is in store for the universe (SPOILER ALERT: the universe will eventually be consumed by an alternate reality..... no really.  Begs the question of whether the Big Bang may have been a previous incarnation of this phenomena...)

And let's not forget the recent Apple 'rumors' that puts an iPod onto a wrist watch ... This is one of the first times I can remember of Apple being behind the game on a product launch.  People were sticking nano iPods onto wrist watch bands years ago... been there, done that... boring....  The best take I've seen on this lack of innovation from Apple is via Mashable...

I never thought I would say that Apple wasn't being innovative... really I didn't. I've been an Apple fan for as long as I can remember... To me there can only be one reasonable and plausible explanation here.... we really ARE living in an alternate reality - and tomorrow we'll all wake up to the news that the Apple watch rumors were all entirely false!

Image credit: Tech (t3.com)

Facebook Graph Search Beta - A Mistake or Genuis Move?

So yesterday Facebook held a mystery conference introduced their new Graph Search Beta where people can use their existing social graph to search for things like: "Friends who enjoy hiking".  When I heard this announcement I thought to myself - wouldn't people already know if their friends liked hiking? Why would I as a Facebook user need to use this tool to search for that info?  As a Marketer, I conceded that this could be useful (searching for Friends of Friends who live in a specific geographical location and enjoy certain pastimes) - but we also have insight tools for those sorts of searches/targeting, so maybe not ...

I am a bit skeptical of this move and will need to watch the developments closely before making up my mind - I'm not entirely in the 'creeped out' category... but for some reason this feels a bit more invasive than what Google does in regards to integrating social with search results -not sure why - could be simply because i'm *used* to Google ...  it will be interesting to see how it plays out and if Bing ends up coming out as the big winner here.

What do you think? Is Facebook on the cusp of genius here - or are they making yet another mistake?
  

Facebook Graph Search Beta Screenshot

Show iGoogle Some Love Google!

When I heard that Google was discontinuing their iGoogle home search page option a few months back I was mildly annoyed, but wasn't seething... that was until today when I realized how much I actually rely on this tool to get me through the day.

iGoogle is my go to page. It is set as my home page and has everything I need for a quick snapshot of what's happening around the web, my city and the world.

My favorite blog recent postings (Digital Buzz Blog, Google Webmaster Blog, and the Official Google Blog... if you're wondering), current search trends, the weather for my city (right 50% of the time) and my personal favorite - the quote of the day (sure to make you smile and reflect) - are all right there in one place.   When I realized today that in a few months I wouldn't be able to see all of this in one glance and determine what I cared about (and didn't) in an instant, it bothered me.  It really did.

Google says they're getting rid of iGoogle due to the massive amount of apps that are out there ... but iGoogle is so much better than the standard (boring) search page... having posted about this on G+ and chatting with others I know that some people out there love their iGoogle page, regardless of the official stance from Google. While I have no illusions that we can change Google's mind about revoking the iGoogle pages- maybe if we all talk loudly enough, they'll offer some sort of G+ alternative that would make up for the loss... 

So what do you think? iGoogle- keep or get rid of it? What would a iGoogle like tool in G+ look like do you think?

Learn more about the online petition to save iGoogle

Great Augmented Reality Makes it to the Mainstream! [So Now What?]

I have been awed at the potential power of Augmented Reality since I first saw GE's Smart Grid video - it took over 3 years for the general public to catch up - don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that i09 has listed Augmented Reality on it's 2012 Most Futuristic Predictions That Came True list as finally making it to the mainstream, but my question to you is - why did it take so long?

Big players, Google and Microsoft most notably, are registering patents left right and center to try and harness as much of this market as possible before others realize what Augmented Reality actually means for everyone - marketers and consumers - especially consumers. The emergence of Augmented Reality as a viable part of our daily lives means that for the first time, people can immerse themselves inside a brand experience  unlike any other medium - this is great for print media - making print more engaging and exciting is not an easy feat now a days - sure there's 3D printing [but that's a topic for another post]...

Educators, museums  and art galleries can also use Augmented Reality to enhance their displays, and bring people into the history (or art) instead of being a passive observer. Augmented Reality Streaming can also be used by out medical professionals to consult on cases from different continents in real time (it's cool you really should check out this technology...)

Augmented Reality is the only medium that lets you become part of the story -  so if you haven't given it a try, take a minute to check out these Top 10 Augmented Reality Examples yourself and ... welcome to the mainstream.

GE Smart Grid Hologram