The Evolution of Innovation with the Internet of Things
It’s official, the Internet of Things is here to stay and it’s only planning on getting bigger. Every day, more devices and appliances are coming equipped with the ability to connect to the Internet. What began with phones, tablets, and entertainment systems quickly ballooned to lightbulbs, thermostats, refrigerators, etc. The real question is whether this connectivity is really making things easier or, unfortunately, more complicated.
The New York Times tackled this influx of new items in the IOT and asked an important question, “Just because you can do something, does it mean you should?” Some developments we’re seeing boast a practical balance of utility and convenience, like the combination Wi-Fi booster and lightbulb from Sengled. Given the lack of reliability of wireless signals, a range-extender is a common enough tool for most homes. By combining it with an LED lightbulb, the device helps to free up additional space in your household, reduce energy costs, and cut down on unsightly wires. That said, as cool as it might be from a novelty standpoint, we’re not sure we need Wi-Fi for our toothbrush. Oral hygiene is enough of a chore as it is and our smart phone would absolutely end up being dropped in water.
As more devices that coexist within the home are connected to the Internet there is also a much greater level of interactivity between them. A recent blog post from Networkfleet described this interactivity as “moving information from one device to another and controlling it all from the palm of your hand.” Where you once used a flick of the switch to get your power, you can now control your climate, entertainment, and more right from your phone.
Last year, Google purchased Nest Labs, one of the big names in Internet-enabled home devices including the aforementioned thermostats, fire alarms, security devices, and other products. The company’s line of smart appliances has been enormously popular, touting both its convenience and energy-saving abilities. “What we are interested in is the ‘thoughtful home’,” Lionel Paillet, Nest Labs’ General Manager for Europe, told Forbes. “The home has to be thoughtful and understand your habits.”
The continued rise of the Internet of Things is reminiscent of a classic 2001 episode of “The Simpsons” in which Homer and Marge upgrade to a robotically operated house (The Ultrahouse 3000, voiced by Pierce Brosnan). The family is at first enamored by the convenience and charm of the device before the artificially intelligent home falls madly in love with Marge and attempts to rid itself of anyone in the way of its happiness.
While we’ve hardly reached Ray Bradbury levels of technology in the home, we’re certainly on the cusp of experiencing a real-world version of what used to be the realm of science-fiction. Expect to see plenty more Wi-Fi capable inventions, both necessary and superfluous, coming your way in the next couple years as we continue to find new ways to connect ourselves to the world.
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