The Next Step
By Md Amer Akhtab Muizz
The last few decades has seen some of the biggest innovations in technology. Computers have come to our desks, mobile phones in our hands and they even got smarter! The internet got revolutionised with social networking, video chatting; and of course, Youtube. Its 2016, and we have all these. But, whats the next big thing which will revolutionise the way we see things today. A good guess is the Internet of Things, in short, IoT.
The Internet of Things is a term used for the technology that connects physical devices to the internet. IoT is simple: devices talk to each other over the internet and work as per requirement in the most efficient way. IoT will reach every possible device we use every day and make our life even smarter. Imagine your fridge notifying you when your favourite cake is nearly finished. You get a sms telling you to buy another cake, if you want your fridge to always have it there.
Lets think about a more practical issue. Bangladesh doesnt have the best of infrastructures. We are still developing. And the ones that exist, we are not really sure about their quality. While taking a flyover on your way home, you may be afraid it might collapse someday. But IoT will make it possible to overcome that fear of yours by using smart cement. Yes, it is possible! Smart cement will contain electronic chips which will detect any faults in structures and notify the respective authorities, preventing any future accidents. Smart cement will also be able to talk to your smart car, warning you of a slippery road ahead. And, if you dont slow down, your car will slow down itself. And its all possible using IoT.
The possibility of IoT isnt that small. Think Big! IoT will be able to provide us with smarter roads where the traffic will be controlled with car density and road conditions in mind. Your smart car will call the ambulance by itself if there happens to be any accident. The ambulance will come to you taking the fastest possible route and take you to the best hospital nearby; all with the help of IoT. There isnt a thing in the future which will not be influenced by IoT: industries, power grids, healthcare, and your home.
Just like computers made revolution in the 1990s, it is IoT that will make the next big change. Experts estimate that the use of IoT devices will go up to more than 30 billion by 2020. With the help of IoT, smart cities will be our future. The ultramodern, futuristic world we usually see in movies will no longer be a dream. That is because, the future is here.
Images: Internet
