By Steve Ranger, 20 November 2006 14:35
NEWS
We will soon be in the middle of a blizzard of tiny computers embedded into everyday items and constantly talking to each other.
Welcome to the so-called 'internet of things' which will replace today's internet of people and data. Everyday items from TVs to toothbrushes, sports equipment and even buildings will have in-built computing power and wireless that will allow them to communicate and share information.
Current rollouts of RFID tagging will be dwarfed by the future development of sensor networks, according to Robin Mannings, BT futurologist and research foresight manager.
He told silicon.com: "RFID is just the tip of the iceberg and the iceberg is ubiquitous computing - more or less everything being a computer."
According to a report published by the International Telecommunications Union last year, eventually, even particles as small as dust might be tagged and networked. "Such developments will turn the merely static objects of today into newly dynamic things," the report predicted.
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The devices could range from a steering wheel with embedded sensors that check if the driver is getting too stressed, through to packaging that can tell if the product inside has become too hot or cold. RFID is already appearing everywhere from suits to football tickets.
Mannings said: "The idea of having technology in everyday objects isn't a pipedream - it's the next evolution of the internet."
The first stage of this "ubiquitous computing" is the use of RFID, and according to Mannings it's pretty hard to think of anything that you can't add to the network. He predicts we will soon see an increased number of these things being deployed outside our bodies - and inside.
As a result we will find ourselves living in a "digital bubble" where as people move around, the technology and the services they use will follow them because it knows where they are - for example, every coffee machine might be able to know how you like your coffee without being told.But there is still a way to go before even RFID tagging hits the mainstream, said Mannings.
He said: "Things like RFID and tagging are today to do with business but that's not going to excite kids at school. When we start to see ubiquitous computing arranging our social lives then you can see some really cool stuff and it will change the way people interact."
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. Mark Perkins
This is a scary article not only for the content but for the perspective from which it's written.
The issues of privacy and control are not touched on. Who will have access
to all this information and who will control how it functions?
Welcome to Brave New World and 1984 all rolled into one?
2. David Christian
Indeed, RFID is a privacy nightmare. Refer to the book "Spychips" for some perspective on how industry and government is planning to use this technology to monitor people.
3. anonymous
If RFID is as 'cool' as this writer obviously thinks it is I think I prefer 'uncool'. As previously mentioned, I find it scary that the writer finds this proposed invasion of our personal space to be positive. It also sounds a little like Terminator country and we all know how that ended!
4. Roger Huffadine
Oh! like Bluetooth meets the paperless office? Robert Mannings is clearly out of his tree and needs a good dose of sick leave. How about BT getting sufficient backbone bandwidth to give us some reasonable response times on our high speed [choked by BT] broadband?
5. Simon Hollins
I accept the privacy concerns but I have a different perspective. Most technology developments have had similar privacy concerns but willingly or not we all live with them.
I want to know what burning problems we could solve with RFID. Outside logistics, I don't hear many good ones. RFID means a machine can identify an object in the same way a human can - by scanning it within close proximity. How does that help? How about my laptop knowing that I am at my desk or at home now, or that it is me using it (recognises my clothes or my name badge). Retailers knowing not my name but that I am a customer because I am wearing or holding their product - even if I was just online. Hospital staff that can only prescribe the right drug because the ITU equipment 'recognises' the drug. My fridge can 'see' my food is out of date?
It doesn't have to be scary - most of our right to exist without being monitored has already gone anyway. Whether it is of value is harder.