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/