| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | blogging as an interesting new phenomenon filling |
| Our Internet connected world is experiencing a | | | | the hole between the two). We are also using the |
| revolution that is still in its early phases. New | | | | Internet for shopping, where every brand or |
| technologies, applications and online concepts are | | | | store nowadays has a point of access to the |
| springing forth every day, changing the way we | | | | Internet. What is not connected to the Internet |
| work with the net and how we connect and | | | | are all the functions that could be useful for |
| communicate with each other. Even though it is | | | | making our lives comfortable and saving energy. |
| hard to predict what will happen next, the high | | | | The Internet is like a big nerve center that still |
| rate of change and progress of Internet functions | | | | has to build a smaller nerve system that connects |
| and applications indicates the Internet has not yet | | | | to all the supporting functions of our lives. The |
| matured and will continue to develop and evolve in | | | | backbone is there but not the final end |
| many interesting and powerful ways. | | | | connections to our senses and muscles. |
| One area of progress that is difficult to predict | | | | So far, our view of the Internet has been quite |
| and that has been seriously lagging — | | | | human-centric, but that is going to change. |
| seemingly just waiting in hiding to emerge and | | | | It is quite likely that sooner or later the majority |
| blossom — is the integration of the | | | | of items connected to the Internet will not be |
| Internet with our physical world. Today’s | | | | humans, but things: heating/cooling systems, |
| world of the Internet and our physical world are | | | | health sensors, security systems, central door |
| essentially two standalone worlds with humans | | | | window locking systems, remote controls, etc. |
| functioning as the interface between the two. In | | | | It is here where wireless networks will play a |
| the future, these two worlds will become | | | | major role. There are many more things |
| significantly more intertwined, and this intertwining | | | | than people and to physically wire all |
| will become a sort of revolution in its own. | | | | things to the Internet is just not feasible. The |
| Let’s take a practical example. It has been | | | | good news is that recently communication |
| a hard day of work and you are driving home. | | | | standards (like IEEE 802.15.4 and on top of that |
| It’s a cold day, and you want to turn on | | | | ZigBee) have been ratified to make this possible. |
| your house heating system so your home will be | | | | But it is not only wireless technology that is |
| nice and cozy when you arrive. Or you are | | | | required - energy harvesting from the |
| rushing off to work and all of a sudden you start | | | | environment will also be an essential element. In |
| to wonder whether you remembered to turn off | | | | addition to removing the data communication |
| the heat before you departed. | | | | cables, it is also important to eliminate the power |
| Despite all our technology sophistication you are | | | | cable and the need for batteries, along with their |
| probably best off by calling your neighbor (who | | | | negative impact on the environment as well as |
| has a reserve key of your house) to go inside | | | | the huge labor costs associated with charging and |
| and do the job. This is an interesting example | | | | maintaining batteries. |
| because most likely you already have a little | | | | Energy harvesting is the rapidly emerging |
| control network at home controlling your heater | | | | technology that pulls energy out of the |
| with a thermostat and you probably also have | | | | environment (IE - a solar cell on a pocket |
| Internet access at home. | | | | calculator or a kinetic device that converts |
| Still, the lack of integration between these | | | | vibration to electrical power) and can provide the |
| networks leaves you no other option than calling | | | | energy needed for the thing to have it |
| your neighbor. In addition to checking our heating, | | | | connected and controlled over the Internet. The |
| this is also how most of us check that the | | | | development of energy harvesting devices is |
| whether the door was locked and the windows | | | | making big steps forward, but there is still a long |
| were closed. Wouldn’t it be great if you | | | | way to go, in particular in reducing the cost of the |
| could control your house with a few buttons on | | | | harvesting devices. |
| your cell phone? Interestingly, it does not require | | | | Looking into the future, the Internet of |
| any major technology breakthroughs to make | | | | Things could very well be the next revolution |
| this happen. | | | | on the Internet where integration of our physical |
| All of us are using the Internet today for | | | | and virtual worlds will be the main driver. |
| communication and reading the news (with | | | | |