The Internet of Things is not about the Things.

First published in The Star, January 12, 2016

Certain trends, such as ‘wearables’, get a lot of media attention because of their obvious visibility and relevance to the man in the street. Because of a small electronic bracelet on his wrist, a person can now measure the number of steps he takes in a day, his sleep patterns, his heart rate and a host of other data that always existed but simply didn’t resonate.  

Brave New World

First Published: The Star, August 2014

One of the big technology industry analysts predicts that 2014 to be the breakout year for wearable technology. There’s a big takeup in wearables, with more and more people sporting wristpieces that measure their lifestyle, or sports activities or are an extension of their smartphones.  Unlike earlier models, latter-day models are sleek and stylish.  Google’s Glass has also been attracting media attention for quite a while now, just one of a number of smart eyeglasses.  

Wearable technology is only one small sliver of a much larger trend. Google’s acquisition of Nest, the home thermostat company in early 2014 is an example of the hive of activity in connected devices, while Apple’s inclusion on its latest smartphone operating system (iOS8) of Homekit, which allows developers to connect their devices to Apple’s platform, provides tantalizing hints of what’s to come in the area of the connected home. 

In 2014 Google unveiled its driverless car, which depends on sensors to sense its surroundings and navigate its way to the destination. All the major car manufacturers are working on some version of autonomous driving cars.