Subscribe RSS FeedThe networking firm Cisco has announced recently that there will be around 7 Billion Network devices worldwide in 2015 and around 35 Billion Network Devices in 2020. Furthermore, in 2020, there will be more network devices online than there are people in the world.
There were a number of other predictions made relating to the masses of data that will be available on the internet, and also that the average computer in 2020 will have the same processing power as a human brain.
What Devices Will Outnumber Humans
The devices expected to be outnumbering humans connected to the internet will include PCs, Servers, Smartphones and Tablets. What will make up the real bulk of the numbers though are intelligent household devices such as Smart Fridges, Entertainment Systems, Internet Enabled Cars and various other items that only have rudimentary computers in them now.
Will We Run Out of Space on the Internet?
Mercifully, the IPv6 protocol is already largely implemented and ready to go. This means we will have a number of available ‘IP Addresses’ that is a number around 39 digits long (it’s a ridiculously large number).
More Futuristic Devices
It is predicted that in the future humans will have health monitoring devices attached or implanted into their bodies. This will allow physicians to see whether there are problems about to occur. Primarily this will be used in heart disease patients to detect heart attacks, but will expand to assist with more medical problems in the future. All these devices will be connected to the internet.
What Value Can This Possibly Add to Our Lives?
This is a common question asked of all technologies that are not fully understood. We have already touched on things like healthcare, but in the area of personal organisation and communication we still have a lot of room to move as a society. Imagine reminders of meetings showing up on your toaster or your fridge. Important deadlines will never be forgotten again. Better yet, imagine a car that warms itself up before you need to use it, or switches the airconditioning on in hot areas. It will be able to do this by knowing what your next movements are.
Privacy and Security Concerns
The future of an Internet enabled life holds big privacy concerns for us all. It is possible we will see less of the ‘walled garden’ style of system design and more open systems being designed. This will serve to increase criticism and also enhance security via community interaction with standards.
As we move closer and closer to complete biological integration with the internet, it is important that as people we become more highly aware of the importance of our privacy and security. If we do not, it might be a little too late by the time we realise what is happening.
This essay on future technology is written by Ryan, a technical writer for HirePulse, a great place to find mining contractors and all kinds of other contractors.
Tags: Cisco, network devices