ISSUES
: The Internet of Things
Chapter 2: Our digital future
27
offices are programmed with energy-
saving software, and businesses
can operate anywhere with Cloud
technology.
“As those devices have become the
norm in our lives, many tasks and
activities have just been relegated
to the past, with a surprising lack of
sentimentality – simply because we
demand that our gadgets keep pace
with our hurried lives.
“Todayour phone takes theplaceof our
GPS, games console, remote control,
iPod and TV as well as performing
more traditional functions such as the
egg timer, torch and spirit level.
“It’s remarkable how quickly we
continue to adapt to this new
environment and, while we can’t
predict our future, we are undoubtedly
helping to create it.”
Top 20 activities of the past
and new alternatives
1.
Call cinema to check times;
check cinema site or use app
2.
VHS video recorder; Sky plus/
box sets
3.
Research holiday in travel
agents; search online for holiday
deals
4.
Ring directory enquiries; Google
phone numbers
5.
Public payphones; mobile
phones
6.
Ring the speaking clock; check
time on phone screen
7.
Pay for tickets for events over
the telephone; buy tickets
online
8.
Print photos from negatives;
Instagram/Facebook and digital
cameras
9.
Take pics on disposable
cameras; take pics with phone/
iPad
10.
Listen to Sony Walkman; music
on phone or iPod
11.
Carry spare change; use debit
cards
12.
Pay bills at the post office; pay
bills online
13.
Reverse charges in phone box;
use mobile phones
14.
Put a classified advert in the
shop window; eBay/Craigslist
15.
Buy TV listing magazines; use
online alternative
16.
Big fold-out maps; Satnav or
Google Maps
17.
Queue to get car tax in the Post
Office; buy car tax online
18.
Read a hard copy of the Yellow
Pages; use online directories
19.
Fax things; send an email
attachment
20.
Trawl through encyclopaedias;
use Wikipedia and/or search
engines.
31 March 2014
Ö
Ö
The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from SWNS Digital. Please visit
for further
information.
Ö
Ö
Research conducted by Daisy
Group.
© SWNS Digital 2016
The Internet of Me is here
E
very day, we create vast
amounts of data about
ourselves. And the quantity
is only going to grow and grow. The
Internet Of Things will plug us in to
a vast and ever-growing network of
connected devices from wearable
technology to domestic appliances to
entire ‘smart cities’.
The potential for innovation is as
enormous as it is exciting. And our
personal data is the fuel driving it all.
The shiny new hardware – from
smartphones to sensors – ismerely the
kit. It is only part of the vast ecosystem
of digital products and services we
interact with every day. The amount of
value any of these things bring to our
lives depends on howmuch they know
about us. And the more they know the
better they get.
This is the Internet of Me
Of course, there are some obstacles
on the road to this utopian future.
Security blunders and hacking
attacks make us fearful for the safety
of our data in others’ hands. We are
uneasy about the way our information
is trawled and traded, then used to
track and target us.
So how can we realise the amazing
potential of the personal data
economy? The answer is surprisingly
simple. All it requires is a change in
who controls our personal data.
Let’s look at health as an example.
Here is a sector ripe for innovation but
where data is of the most personal
and sensitive nature.
Something such as a running app
tracks your performance over time
and reports your progress relative to
your previous runs. It doesn’t really tell
you much about your fitness beyond
this, much less your overall health.
But imagine if your running app was
one of many that shared data about
your lifestyle. Let’s add in your heart
rate, sleep pattern, steps walked,
food bought, blood pressure, working
hours, miles driven. Include your
medical records and that data gets
seriously deep. The first beneficiary of
all this would be you. For the first time
you would have a complete picture of
your health, fitness and lifestyle.
Through sharing that rich data – or
parts of it – between those apps and
services (and new ones) you could
feed back fresh information that then
allows them to further enhance the
experience for you.
They could then warn you of
potential heath problems, give you
lifestyle advice and motivation, and
personalise offers for products that
could include everything from food to
gym memberships to tailored health
insurance plans.
Think of any sector and the benefits
become obvious – finance, travel,
utilities, motoring, retail. Products and
services stand to gain so much more
relevance and value the more data
you put in.
A dysfunctional system
The problem is that right now,
businesses have to make do with
