Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the devices, vehicles, appliances, and other electronic items that are embedded with a software system that connects it to the internet to transmit data to the connected device. Your smart watch, cars, home appliances, etc. that now has sensors for ease of access with your smartphone come under this broad category. It is making life easier, no doubt, but it is also creating scope for other big disadvantages that we are slowly adapting into our lives.
Here are some interesting facts and statistics that should help you in
group discussion on IoT. This is vast category that makes it to the news more often currently & is a hot favourite of the selection panel at Group Discussions.
Some facts:
- It is estimated that IoT will consist of about 30 billion objects by 2020 and likely to unlock $19 trillion of economic opportunity.
- One of the technologies that represent the first generation of IoT products when they started coming online in 1974 is none other than Automated teller machines (ATMs).
- It is said that by the year 2008, there were more internet connected devices in the entire world than humans.
- General Electric has already been using IoT concepts for years to improve its jet engine technology. Complex sensors stationed around each airplane are known to generate up to 14 gigabytes of data per flight.
- The railroad industry has also been using a sophisticated system of software and RFID tags to track railcars and their contents.
- All the midrange or luxury cars bought in the last five years are almost certainly connected to this type of a system.
Group discussion topics on IoT, you can expect to see:
1. Role of Internet of Things in development of India .
2. Manufacturing industries should make efforts to limit contribution to IoT.
3. Should countries put a ban on IoT for children?
4. Should IoT pay more attention to security rather than just expanding its horizon to the extremes?
5. IoT is the next big thing in technology.
6. IoT poses a huge risk to privacy, if they your system is hacked.
7. IoT is the next big thing for hackers trying to have access to your intimate data.
8. Pros and cons of over-usage of IoT at homes and offices.
9. IoT at battlefields will make life of soldiers safer and easier.
10. IoT will make way for robots to rule over humans one day.
11. IoT devices are making people lazier and obese.
12. IoT needs to be regulated before it goes out of limits and poses serious threat.
Some quotes that can be useful while dealing with a Group Discussion on IoT:
"Everything that can be automated will be automated"
- Robert Cannon, Internet Law and Policy Expert
"As the Internet of things advances, the very notion of a clear dividing line between reality and virtual reality becomes blurred, sometimes in creative ways."
- Geoff Mulgan
"With the IoT, we're headed to a world where things aren't liable to break catastrophically - or at least we'll have a hell of a heads' up. We're headed to a world where our doors unlock when they sense us nearby."
- Scott Weiss
"You're going to see this ‘Internet of things' start demanding network performance and making the networks much more aware of what is on top of them."
- Hans Vestberg
Pros of Internet of Things:
1. Making cities smart: Better technology embedded into buildings and being able to detect warnings of natural or manmade catastrophes is the future of IoT.
2. Safety and security: CCTV cameras and anti-theft devices will help improve security of homes and offices while being incorporated with IoT.
3. Increasing productivity: Leaving the menial tasks to the machine while operating it from anywhere gives the advantage of saving time and using it for more productive tasks.
4. Health benefits: Smart watch that can track health conditions like change in pulse or blood pressure are an absolute advantage. There are fitness trackers and sleep regulators too.
Cons of Internet of Things:
1. Loss of employment: Depending more on machines and devices with the help of internet is depriving a lot of people of their jobs.
2. Compromising privacy: You never know when your smart TV could be turned into a spy camera that tracks your movements and private moments.
3. Radiation everywhere: Scientists have been warning about the health complications that could arise due to overexposure to radiation. IoT is an even bigger demon.
4. Dire consequences: Bugs, malwares, and what not could get into your appliances and stop the more important work for you.
Conclusion:
Just like all other advents of technology, IoT too will have major disadvantages to it and hence it largely depends on the way we decide to use it. The usage should definitely be kept to the minimum to ensure than one doesn't become a slave to machine.
We hope this article could help you in group discussions related to IoT.
