The revolution of everyday life though the internet of things is yet to come. How IoT can change our lives has only been imagined so far. After all, not everyone already lives in a smart home or uses wearable technology. Innovations such as automated cash register systems, intelligent surveillance cameras, and self-controlling factories, on the other hand, are almost invisible in everyday life or operate in the background. A comprehensive internet of things would mean that we are constantly surrounded by computer systems that collect data and exchange information via the internet. If devices like these are used at home, they could interfere with our privacy.
A smart home can have numerous advantages for residents: Based on personal and activity-related data, it acts proactively and facilitates various everyday processes. Household appliances regulate themselves and do not need to be controlled. A stove that turns itself off or an automatically closing apartment door provide more security and peace of mind.
Many networked devices can also respond to behavioral patterns: A fitness wristband spurs the user on and encourages a healthy lifestyle by alerting them when it detects a lack of movement. However, human needs aren’t 100% predictable. What if this technology starts to dictate our lifestyle? For example, how will health insurances work out their tariffs in the future if they gain insight into a person’s personal fitness program and it doesn’t meet their health policy standards? These questions are not only being asked by ethical experts. IT experts are also discussing potential downsides of the IoT and are considering a ‘Hippocratic Oath’ for software developers.
One thing is certain: the smart home devices already available are quite practical. An example of this is the adaptive radiator thermostat from Nest, a company acquired by Google. It memorizes residents’ heating habits and automatically regulates the temperature. An integrated motion detector senses when residents are home and switches off the heating when they are absent. This saves heating costs, conserves energy resources, and makes life more comfortable. If the residents come home early, they can pre-heat the apartment before arriving.
IoT innovations that have already been tested in some cities give an idea of what is possible in the public sector in the foreseeable future. If these were to be used worldwide, the internet of things could make the transport sector, road traffic, waste collection, and many other things a lot more efficient. A complete infrastructure of networked street lamps, waste containers, traffic lights, and building façades could be created that use sensors to collect data.
In the Spanish city of Santander, the smart city is no longer a vision of the future. Thousands of sensors measure traffic in the narrow streets of the city center. An app informs residents about the traffic situation and can even guide them to the nearest empty parking space. In Amsterdam, intelligent street lamps provide the right light intensity. If there are no pedestrians or cars nearby, they turn themselves off. This reduces light pollution and saves energy.