Everything is connected and everything is updated: Is now a good time to invest in the Internet of Things?
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If you usually pay attention to changes in Internet and technology trends, you will definitely find that a keyword will appear in life from time to time, capturing our eyeballs and attention. Yes, I am talking about the Internet of Things, IoT.
When it comes to the Internet of Things, what do you immediately think of? Is it a refrigerator that can automatically purchase ingredients online based on the food consumption speed and preferences of the whole family? Or a wearable device system that can monitor our physical and mental health and even be connected to medical institutions? Well, of course these all belong to the category of the Internet of Things, but in fact the Internet of Things covers a wide range. According to Wikipedia, the Internet of Things is an information carrier such as the Internet and traditional telecommunications networks, which allows all ordinary objects that can perform independent functions to implement an interconnected network.
Although “Internet of Things” has been a hot keyword in the past two years, it is not a new thing in itself. Experts and scholars such as Ken Sakamura and Kevin Ashton have proposed similar ideas in the last century. However, due to limitations in the development of science and technology, it was not until November 17, 2005, when the International Telecommunications Union released the “ITU Internet Report 2005: Internet of Things” that the advent of the “Internet of Things” era was specifically pointed out. The advent of the 21st century has allowed information technology to make long-term progress, and has also grandly opened the door for iconic Internet of Things products such as Nest acquired by Google or HET (Health and Environmental Tracker) to prevent asthma.
According to [forecast] (https://www.bnext.com.tw/article/30553/BN-ARTICLE-30553), an internationally renowned research institution, the number of IoT devices worldwide will reach 26 billion by 2020, generating approximately US$300 billion in revenue and bringing US$1.9 trillion in added value to the global economy, which is quite astonishing.
But a question that everyone is really concerned about may be-how should we view the development of the Internet of Things? How to embrace the huge business opportunities brought by the Internet of Things? Or even, is now a good time to invest in IoT?
Looking at the development of business logic, we can clearly know one thing, that is, the motivation of major technology manufacturers around the world to actively deploy the Internet of Things market is not just to sell products, but to integrate the upstream and downstream markets to create an ecosystem that can meet the needs of people’s lives. Of course, this is nothing more than focusing on the huge business opportunities behind rigid demand.
Some people also think that the “Internet of Things” is just a cover, and almost any smart Internet-connected thing can be involved. However, I think that instead of worrying about the definition and boundaries of the “Internet of Things”, we should think about the intersection of the Internet and daily life, and what kind of sparks can be created? What interesting synergistic effects can be produced?
I have previously seen [Wu Jun](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%90%B4%E5%86%9B_\(%E8%AE% An article written by Mr. A1%E7%AE%97%E6%9C%BA%E7%A7%91%E5%AD%A6%E5%AE%B6)) introduced the cradle of black technology - the Media Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Media Lab). In fact, the purpose of the establishment of the Media Laboratory is not to specialize in the development of media, but to allow some scientists to use their imagination without restrictions to invent technological products that ordinary people cannot imagine. For example, touch screens, tablet computers, electronic ink and even wearable devices that are now very mature have some origins in the media laboratory.
In my opinion, the development of the Internet of Things also has a bit of this flavor. The advent of the Internet of Things era is an indisputable fact, and what the industry should do in this era is not just to connect all devices to the Internet! The challenges faced by industry, government, academia, and research institutes require the integration and creation of various novel services to expand different application levels and enhance people’s user experience. In other words, how can we gradually progress from “Internet of Everything” to the state of “all things are intelligent”, so that we can concretely improve the well-being of people’s daily lives? These questions are one of the indicators and directions for us to measure the value of the Internet of Things.
Thanks to the advancement of science and technology, the Internet of Things is getting closer and closer to us. We no longer only hear the sound of the stairs but don’t see people coming down. Cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and virtual reality have begun to be widely used in many fields and industries. The delivery of commercial value can mainly be tested through continuous improvement of work efficiency, which can also improve the quality and fun of life. These aspects are also the main driving force for the development of the Internet of Things that all walks of life have begun to pay attention to.
Going from PayPal, I thought, well, ‘What are some of the other problems that are likely to most affect the future of humanity?’ Not from the perspective, ‘What’s the best way to make money?’ which is okay, but, it was really, ‘What do I think is going to most affect the future of humanity.
The 21st century is an era of rapid growth of the imagination economy. As technological civilization advances with the times, many dreams that were previously unattainable, such as artificial intelligence, unmanned vehicles, and robots, are now gradually coming true! Standing at the forefront of a new wave of entrepreneurial trends, take Elon Musk(Elon Many entrepreneurs, represented by Musk, are willing to bravely challenge lofty ideals and bring people a more convenient technological feast.
As he famously said: “What I think about is not how to make big money, but what other problems will have a major impact on mankind?” Indeed, we should give more support, blessings and encouragement to these people who dare to dream big. Therefore, at the beginning of a new year, it may be a good time for everyone to start paying attention to and investing in the Internet of Things.
★ Photo Credit: unsplash.com
★ Article source: This article was originally published in the January 2017 issue of “English Island” magazine
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