Module 3 Living in It
Module 3 Living in It
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MODULE 6: IT CULTURE AND THE SOCIETY
Overview
Technology is changing every aspect of our lives. The benefits provided by new digital approaches are
having a huge impact on our societies. However, one of the greatest business challenges is not about the
devices, software or solutions – it is about how we manage the process of cultural change and its effect to our
society. In this module we will learn what are the different technological advancements and future trends in
technology that could potentially change and shaped the way we live our lives.
Objectives
At the end of this module, learners are expected to:
• Identify what are the current and emerging trends in technology;
• Understand how technology affects culture and society trough through the different advancements
in technology;
• Asses the positive and negative effects of said advancement.
Just about anything with network connectivity belongs to the internet of things, from security cameras and
speakers to smart watches and denim jackets. In the “smart home,” these internet- enabled gadgets liberate
us from our chores, give us back some of our time, and add a dash of novelty to ordinary experiences. (“Alexa,
turn on the disco lights.”) But the internet of things is about more than just using your voice to preheat the oven
or using your phone to turn off the lights.
The real promise of the internet of things is making our physical surroundings accessible to our digital
computers, putting sensors on everything in the world and translating it into a digital format. Internet-connected
objects could be the key to unlocking predictions about everything from consumer behavior to climate events,
but those same objects could invite hackers into personal spaces and leak intimate data. Depending on who
you ask, the growing internet of things either represents the promise of technology—the thing that will reinvent
modern life as we know it—or that which will be our technological undoing.
An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled smart devices that use embedded systems, such as processors,
sensors and communication hardware, to collect, send and act on data they acquire from their environments.
IoT devices share the sensor data they collect by connecting to an IoT gateway or other edge device where
data is either sent to the cloud to be analyzed or analyzed locally. Sometimes, these devices communicate
with other related devices and act on the information they get from one another. The devices do most of the
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work without human intervention, although people can interact with the devices -- for instance, to set them up,
give them instructions or access the data.
The connectivity, networking and communication protocols used with these web-enabled devices largely
depend on the specific IoT applications deployed.
IoT can also make use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to aid in making data collecting
processes easier and more dynamic.
The internet of things helps people live and work smarter, as well as gain complete control over their lives. In
addition to offering smart devices to automate homes, IoT is essential to business. IoT provides businesses
with a real-time look into how their systems really work, delivering insights into everything from the
performance of machines to supply chain and logistics operations.
IoT enables companies to automate processes and reduce labor costs. It also cuts down on waste and
improves service delivery, making it less expensive to manufacture and deliver goods, as well as offering
transparency into customer transactions.
As such, IoT is one of the most important technologies of everyday life, and it will continue to pick up steam as
more businesses realize the potential of connected devices to keep them competitive.
The new rule for the future is going to be, "Anything that can be connected, will be connected." But why on
earth would you want so many connected devices talking to each other? There are many examples for what
this might look like or what the potential value might be. Say for example you are on your way to a meeting;
your car could have access to your calendar and already know the best route to take. If the traffic is heavy
your car might send a text to the other party notifying them that you will be late. What if your alarm clock
wakes up you at 6 a.m. and then notifies your coffee maker to start brewing coffee for you? What if your office
equipment knew when it was running low on supplies and automatically re-ordered more? What if the
wearable device you used in the workplace could tell you when and where you were most active and
productive and shared that information with other devices that you used while working?
On a broader scale, the IoT can be applied to things like transportation networks: "smart cities" which can help
us reduce waste and improve efficiency for things such as energy use; this helping us understand and improve
how we work and live. The reality is that the IoT allows for virtually endless opportunities and connections to
take place, many of which we can't even think of or fully understand the impact of today.
The first internet-connected “thing” to make use of this new protocol was a toaster. John Romkey, a software
engineer and early internet evangelist, had built one for the 1990 show floor of Interop, a trade show for
computers. Romkey dropped a few slices of bread into the toaster and, using a clunky computer, turned the
toaster on. It would still be a decade before anyone used the phrase “internet of things,” but Romkey’s magic
little toaster showed what a world of internet-connected things might be like. (Of course, it wasn’t fully
automated; a person still had to introduce the bread.) It was part gimmick, part proof of concept—and fully a
preview of what was to come.
The term “internet of things” itself was coined in 1999, when Kevin Ashton put it in a PowerPoint presentation
for Procter & Gamble. Ashton, who was then working in supply chain optimization, described a system where
sensors acted like the eyes and ears of a computer—an entirely new way for computers to see, hear, touch,
and interpret their surroundings.
As home internet became ubiquitous and Wi-Fi sped up, the dream of the smart home started to look more like
a reality. Companies began to introduce more and more of these inventions: “smart” coffee makers to brew the
perfect cup, ovens that bake cookies with precision timing, and refrigerators that automatically restocked
expired milk. The first of these, LG’s internet-connected refrigerator, hit the market in 2000. It could take stock
of shelf contents, mind expiration dates, and for some reason, came with an MP3 player. It also cost $20,000.
As sensors became cheaper, these internet-connected devices became more affordable for more consumers.
And the invention of smart plugs, like those made by Belkin, meant that even ordinary objects could become
“smart”—or, at least, you could turn them on and off with your phone.
Any IoT system today contains a few basic components. First, there’s the thing outfitted with sensors. These
sensors could be anything that collects data, like a camera inside a smart refrigerator or an accelerometer that
tracks speed in a smart running shoe. In some cases, sensors are bundled together to gather multiple data
points: a Nest thermostat contains a thermometer, but also a motion sensor; it can adjust the temperature of a
room when it senses that nobody’s in it. To make sense of this data, the device has network connectivity (Wi-
Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, or satellite) and a processor where it can be stored and analyzed. From there, the data
can be used to trigger an action—like ordering more milk when the carton in the smart refrigerator runs out, or
adjusting the temperature automatically given a set of rules.
Most people didn’t start building an ecosystem of “smart” devices in their homes until the mass adoption of
voice controls. In 2014, Amazon introduced the Echo, a speaker with a helpful voice assistant named Alexa
built in. Apple had introduced Siri, its own voice assistant, four years prior— but Siri lived on your phone, while
Alexa lived inside the speaker and could control all the “smart” devices in your house. Positioning a voice
assistant as the centerpiece of the smart home had several effects: It demystified the internet of things for
consumers, encouraged them to buy more internet-enabled gadgets, and encouraged developers to create
more “skills,” or IoT commands, for these voice assistants to learn The same year that Amazon debuted Alexa,
Apple came out with HomeKit, a system designed to facilitate interactions between Apple-made smart devices,
sending data back and forth to create a network. These unifying voices have shifted the landscape away from
single-purpose automations and toward a more holistic system of connected things. Tell the Google Assistant
“goodnight,” for example, and the command can dim the lights, lock the front door, set the alarm system, and
turn on your alarm clock. LG’s SmartThinQ platform connects many home appliances, so you can select a
chocolate chip cookie recipe from the screen of your smart fridge and it’ll automatically preheat the oven.
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Manufacturers bill this as the future, but it’s also a convenient way to sell more IoT devices. If you already
have an Amazon Echo, you might as well get some stuff for Alexa to control.
By 2014, the number of internet-connected devices would surpass the number of people in the world. David
Evans, the former chief futurist at Cisco, estimated in 2015 that “an average 127 new things are connected to
the internet” every second. Today, there are over 20 billion connected things in the world, according to
estimates from Gartner. The excitement around the brave new internet- connected world has been matched
with concern. All of these objects, brought to life like Pinocchio, have made the world easier to control: You
can let the delivery man in the front door, or change the temperature inside the house, all with a few taps on a
smartphone.
Generally, IoT is most abundant in manufacturing, transportation and utility organizations, making use of
sensors and other IoT devices; however, it has also found use cases for organizations within the agriculture,
infrastructure and home automation industries, leading some organizations toward digital transformation.
IoT can benefit farmers in agriculture by making their job easier. Sensors can collect data on rainfall, humidity,
temperature and soil content, as well as other factors, that would help automate farming techniques.
The ability to monitor operations surrounding infrastructure is also a factor that IoT can help with. Sensors, for
example, could be used to monitor events or changes within structural buildings, bridges and other
infrastructure. This brings benefits with it, such as cost saving, saved time, quality-of-life workflow changes
and paperless workflow.
A home automation business can utilize IoT to monitor and manipulate mechanical and electrical systems in a
building. On a broader scale, smart cities can help citizens reduce waste and energy consumption.
IoT touches every industry, including businesses within healthcare, finance, retail and
manufacturing.
There are numerous real-world applications of the internet of things, ranging from consumer IoT and enterprise
IoT to manufacturing and industrial IoT (IIoT). IoT applications span numerous verticals, including automotive,
telecom and energy.
In the consumer segment, for example, smart homes that are equipped with smart thermostats, smart
appliances and connected heating, lighting and electronic devices can be controlled remotely via computers
and smartphones.
Wearable devices with sensors and software can collect and analyze user data, sending messages to other
technologies about the users with the aim of making users’ lives easier and more comfortable. Wearable
devices are also used for public safety -- for example, improving first responders' response times during
emergencies by providing optimized routes to a location or by tracking construction workers' or firefighters'
vital signs at life-threatening sites.
In healthcare, IoT offers many benefits, including the ability to monitor patients more closely using an analysis
of the data that's generated. Hospitals often use IoT systems to complete tasks such as inventory
management for both pharmaceuticals and medical instruments.
Smart buildings can, for instance, reduce energy costs using sensors that detect how many occupants are in a
room. The temperature can adjust automatically -- for example, turning the air conditioner on if sensors detect
a conference room is full or turning the heat down if everyone in the office has gone home.
In agriculture, IoT-based smart farming systems can help monitor, for instance, light, temperature, humidity,
and soil moisture of crop fields using connected sensors. IoT is also instrumental in automating irrigation
systems.
Overview
Information technology is an industry on the rise, and business structure, job growth, and emerging technology
will all shift in the coming years. Current trends are improving and presenting new functions in fields like
medicine, entertainment, business, education, marketing, law enforcement, and more. Still, other much-
anticipated technology is only now coming on the scene.
Innovations in IT change internal company processes, but they are also altering the way customers experience
purchasing and support — not to mention basic practices in life, like locking up your home, visiting the doctor,
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and storing files. The following trends in information technology are crucial areas to watch in 2019 and viable
considerations that could influence your future career choices.
Current Trends in Information Technology
The latest technology methods and best practices of 2019 will primarily stem from current trends in information
technology. Advancements in IT systems relate to what the industry is leaning toward or disregarding now.
Information technology is advancing so rapidly that new developments are quickly replacing current
projections.
a. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a network of resources a company can access, and this method of using a digital drive
increases the efficiency of organizations. Instead of local storage on computer hard drives, companies will be
freeing their space and conserving funds. According to Forbes, 83 percent of enterprise workloads will be in
the cloud by 2020, which means 2019 will show an increasing trend closing in on this statistic.
Cloud storage and sharing is a popular trend many companies have adopted and even implemented
for employee interaction. A company-wide network will help businesses save on information technology
infrastructure. Cloud services will also extend internal functions to gain revenue. Organizations that offer cloud
services will market these for external products and continue their momentum.
Organizations will transfer their stored files across multiple sources using virtualization. Companies are
already using this level of virtualization, but will further embrace it in the year to come. Less installation across
company computers is another positive result of cloud computing because the Internet allows direct access to
shared technology and information. The freedom of new products and services makes cloud computing a
growing trend.
b. Mobile Computing and Applications
Mobile phones, tablets, and other devices have taken both the business world and the personal realm by
storm. Mobile usage and the number of applications generated have both skyrocketed
in recent years. Now, 77 percent of Americans own smartphones — a 35 percent increase since 2011. Pew
Research Center also shows using phones for online use has increased and fewer individuals use traditional
Internet services like broadband.
Experts project mobile traffic to increase even further in 2019, and mobile applications, consumer capabilities,
and payment options will be necessary for businesses. The fastest-growing companies have already
established their mobile websites, marketing, and apps for maximized security and user-friendliness. Cloud
apps are also available for companies to use for on-the-go capabilities.
c. Big Data Analytics
Big data is a trend that allows businesses to analyze extensive sets of information to achieve variety in
increasing volumes and growth of velocity. Big data has a high return on investment that boosts the
productivity of marketing campaigns, due to its ability to enable high-functioning processing. Data mining is a
way companies can predict growth opportunities and achieve future success. Examination of data to
understand markets and strategies is becoming more manageable with advances in data analytic
programs.
This practice in information technology can be observed for its potential in data management positions for
optimal organizations. Database maintenance is a growing sector of technology careers. To convert various
leads into paying customers, big data is an essential trend to continue following in 2019.
d. Automation
Another current trend in the IT industry is automated processes. Automated processes can collect information
from vendors, customers, and other documentation. Automated processes that check invoices and other
accounts-payable aspects expedite customer interactions. Machine processes can automate repetitive
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manual tasks, rather than assigning them to employees. This increases organization-wide productivity,
allowing employees to use their valuable time wisely, rather than wasting it on tedious work.
Automation can even produce more job opportunities for IT professionals trained in supporting, programming,
and developing automated processes. Machine learning can enhance these automated processes for a
continually developing system. Automated processes for the future will extend to groceries and other
automatic payment methods to streamline the consumer experience.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has already received a lot of buzz in recent years, but it continues to be a trend to watch
because its effects on how we live, work, and play are only in the early stages. In addition, other branches of AI have
developed, including Machine Learning, which we will go into below. AI refers to computer systems built to mimic human
intelligence and perform tasks such as recognition of images, speech or patterns, and decision making. AI can do these
tasks faster and more accurately than humans.
Five out of six Americans use AI services in one form or another every day, including navigation apps, streaming
services, smartphone personal assistants, ride-sharing apps, home personal assistants, and smart home devices. In
addition to consumer use, AI is used to schedule trains, assess business risk, predict maintenance, and improve energy
efficiency, among many other money-saving tasks.
Medical AI is another trend that reflects surprising success. Given patient information and risk factors, AI systems can
anticipate the outcome of treatment and even estimate the length of a hospital visit. Deep learning is one way AI
technology gets applied to health records to find the likelihood of a patient’s recovery and even mortality. Experts
evaluate data to discover patterns in the patient’s age, condition, records, and more.
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B. VIRTUAL REALITY
Virtual reality (VR), the use of computer modeling and simulation that enables a person to interact
with an artificial three-dimensional (3-D) visual or other sensory environment. VR applications
immerse the user in a computer-generated environment that simulates reality through the use of
interactive devices, which send and receive information and are worn as goggles, headsets,
gloves, or body suits. In a typical VR format, a user wearing a helmet with a stereoscopic screen
views animated images of a simulated environment. The illusion of “being there” (telepresence) is
effected by motion sensors that pick up the user’s movements and adjust the view on the screen
accordingly, usually in real time (the instant the user’s movement takes place). Thus, a user can
tour a simulated suite of rooms, experiencing changing viewpoints and perspectives that are
convincingly related to his own head turnings and steps. Wearing data gloves equipped with force-
feedback devices that provide the sensation of touch, the user can even pick up and manipulate
objects that he sees in the virtual environment.
For instance, CAVE automatic virtual environments actively display virtual content onto room-sized screens. While they
are fun for people in universities and big labs, consumer and industrial wearables are the wild west.
With a multiplicity of emerging hardware and software options, the future of wearables is unfolding but yet unknown.
Concepts such as the HTC Vive Pro Eye, Oculus Quest and Playstation VR are leading the way, but there are also
players like Google, Apple, Samsung, Lenovo and others who may surprise the industry with new levels of immersion
and usability. Whomever comes out ahead, the simplicity of buying a helmet-sized device that can work in a living-room,
office, or factory floor has made HMDs center stage when it comes to Virtual Reality technologies
Oculus Rift
Whilst VR is known for transforming the gaming and entertainment industry in particular, with consoles and handhelds
adapting their games for VR the gaming experience has been utterly transformed and improved all around. The
connection between game and player becomes far closer as gamers are completely immersed into their own gaming
world.
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VR is also beginning to revolutionize other industries such as healthcare, retail and education, which is already aiding
tasks in the sectors, from helping patients with anxiety relax, and helping students learn more by experiencing what they
are being educated on.
C. AUGMENTED REALITY
D. BLOCKCHAIN DATA
Blockchain data, like the new cryptocurrency Bitcoin, is a secure method that will continue to grow in popularity and use
in 2019. This system allows you to input additional data without changing, replacing, or deleting anything. In the influx of
shared data systems like cloud storage and resources, protecting original data without losing important information is
crucial.
Blockchain in simple terms is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change,
hack, or cheat the system. A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is duplicated and distributed
across the entire network of computer systems on the blockchain.
The authority of many parties keeps the data accounted for without turning over too much responsibility to certain
employees or management staff. For transaction purposes, blockchain data offers a safe and straightforward way to do
business with suppliers and customers. Private data is particularly secure with blockchain systems, and the medical and
information technology industries can benefit equally from added protection.
E. INTERNET OF THINGS
The Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging movement of products with integrated Wi-Fi and network connectivity
abilities. Cars, homes, appliances, and other products can now connect to the Internet, making activities around the
home and on the road an enhanced experience. Use of IoT allows people to turn on music hands-free with a simple
command, or lock and unlock their doors even from a distance.
Many of these functions are helping organizations in customer interaction, responses, confirmations, and payments.
Remote collection of data assists companies the most. IoT almost acts like a digital personal assistant. The intelligent
features of some of these IoT products can aid in many company procedures. Voice recognition and command
responses will allow you to access stored data on cloud services.
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IoT enriches the IT industry, especially in job creation. Within the next few years, IoTrelated careers will increase,
and there will be a need for 200,000 additional IT workers, according to IT Pro Today. Design, troubleshooting,
and support of IoT products need extensive training and a specific set of skills.
F. 5G
5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G
enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including
machines, objects, and devices.
5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra low latency, more reliability,
massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. Higher
performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences and connects new industries.
Referrences
• https://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/definition/Internet-of-Things-IoT
• https://www.wired.com/story/wired-guide-internet-of-things/
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2014/05/13/simple-explanation-internet-thingsthat-anyone-can-
understand/#16d8137b1d09
• https://www.vistacollege.edu/blog/careers/it/trends-in-information-technology-for-2019/
• https://www.simplilearn.com/top-technology-trends-and-jobs-article
• https://thebossmagazine.com/future-virtual-reality/
• https://www.livescience.com/34843-augmented-reality.html
• https://www.qualcomm.com/invention/5g/what-is-5g
ASSESSMENT
1. Enumerate 5 IoT devices and discuss what smart abilities do they have. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2. Differentiate virtual reality technology and augmented technology from one another.
3. What are the positive and negative implications of these emerging trends to our culture and society?
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