E-skills: Internet of things

Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Question about IoT ................................................................................................................................. 1
What shouldn’t be connected and why? ............................................................................................ 1
What will happen to job losses as the IoT makes robots more intelligent? ....................................... 2
Are there ways to opt-out? ................................................................................................................. 2
What is the biggest risk associated with IoT? ..................................................................................... 2
Will the Internet of things impact sustainability?............................................................................... 2
Reflection ................................................................................................................................................ 2
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Sources .................................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction
This assignment was about the Internet of things. The internet of things has very complex definition
and I think it only makes sense if you try to explain it in your own words. For me, the internet of
things are technological devices that are all connected nowadays. All technology becomes more
wired to each other, which on one hand makes life (or is supposed to make life) more easy but on
the other hand is not without obvious and less obvious reasons.

Questions about IoT

What shouldn’t be connected and why?

The Internet of things is becoming inevitable and a lot of things are connected these days.
Sometimes these connections can be very useful, like an app on your phone to regulate the heat in
your house from a distance. And another app to regulate the curtains, the music. But some things
that are connected to the internet are or completely useless or dangerous. Products that belong to
the first category would be things like a ‘smart salt shaker’ or an app that traces your eggs ( In case
you do not have time to take a look in the fridge). In my opinion I do not really need all these things
and I can hardly imagine anyone needing or even finding them handy really.
There are also some devices that shouldn’t be connected for security reasons. This is maybe a weird
example, but I think it’s risky to connect doors to the internet to open them. When there should
ever be a problem and people cannot leave the room or the building because the internet broke
down… that’s dangerous. Another example is for example when all security devices and alarms are
connected in a building, it’s very easy for one person to hack into the system and shut down
everything at once.
What will happen to job losses as the IoT makes robots more intelligent?
I think a lot of processes will be automated but the new era will also create jobs. Just like in history
when machines replaced a lot of manual work, it still created jobs for people to control these
machines. Just because technology will be able to replace a whole production line, doesn’t mean
that it will. For the future, it will still me more profitable to employ humans. Of course, this is looking
at the near future. A good example is in the building sector. The internet of things is very helpful
with programming and saying e.g. when machines have a problem or need a part replaced. This
particular system is called ‘CPS’. It would be good to have a course within the area of industrial
engineering or electricity, which can create jobs as well.

Are there ways to opt-out?

I think there are some situations in which people simple don’t have the internet of things yet
because of their living conditions (like the Amish or people in less developed countries) but once you
live in a dominated IoT environment, it is extremely hard to opt-out. Technology is progressing
everyday and processes that used to be manual get automated every day. For the older generation
it’s not really necessary to keep engaging in today’s newest technologies but for us, and the future
generation it will be almost impossible to opt out. In the business world, everything is about
efficiency and effectivity. And you simply won’t be able to compete or even find a job without the
internet of things.

What is the biggest risk associated with IoT?

The biggest risk with everything being connected is that they can be hacked all at once as well. If all
devices of a certain sort are connected and the system gets hacked by a person who does not mean
well, it could mean a lot of danger. Like it says in the first source, “We are building a world size
robot”. Something that is also very topical these days and could be dangerous is that our personal
data are being spread all over the world. We link our Facebook with a lot of different sites and app
because it’s easy to ‘register via Facebook’. If personal data falls into the wrong hands it could get
messy.

Will the Internet of things impact sustainability?

These days sustainability is very important and inevitable. We are recognizing the problem of
pollution, waste and the fact that resources are getting scarce. The evolution of technology was in
most cases not so beneficial for the environment, but I think that the internet of things can actually
be a boost to help sustainability over time. Connected devices will be used to design systems that
can help a lot. It can make it easier to recycle, to use less plastic and to eat local products. Paper
versions of documents are getting more and more old-fashioned. Through the internet of things,
environmental monitoring is also much easier.

Reflection
I think the Internet of things is becoming a very hot and important topic. It was very interesting
looking information when trying to find an answer to these questions and forming an opinion about
the current influence about the internet of things. I personally think that IoT will inevitably become a
big part of our lives and we will have to learn to live with it. That won’t be that hard but I do think
that there will have to happen something bad for people to see the dangers in the internet of things.

Conclusion
I found out a lot of things that you would not think of in the first about the internet of things. The
fact that everything will be even more connected in the future scares me, and a lot of others as well
so it seems. Lives are becoming easier and in the first place more regulated. But the internet of
things brings dangers with it, that has to do with this regulation. With everything being connected
and being controlled by systems and machines, things could get compromised very easily, which
could lead to very dangerous situations. Every machine can get hacked they say, and I believe that is
true.

Sources
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www.itbusinessedge.com : https://www.itbusinessedge.com/slideshows/5-
recommendations-to-secure-the-internet-of-things-06.html

Arias, R., Rastogi, A., & Lueth, K. L. (2018, January 21). The impact of the internet of things on
sustainability. Opgehaald van www.weforum.org:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/effect-technology-sustainability-sdgs-internet-
things-iot/

Is the Internet of things going to steal your job? . (2017, September 28). Opgehaald van
www.hackernoon.com: https://hackernoon.com/is-the-internet-of-things-going-to-steal-
your-job-b0114aa109ef

Marr, B. (2017, March 7). Botnets: The dangerous side effects of the internet of things . Opgehaald
van www.forbes.com: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2017/03/07/botnets-
the-dangerous-side-effects-of-the-internet-of-things/#28d971b93304

Press, G. (2017, November 9). 10 predictions for the internet of things . Opgehaald van
www.forbes.com: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gilpress/2017/11/09/10-predictions-for-
the-internet-of-things-iot-in-2018/#7035f23b35e7

Reynolds, M. (2017, May 12). Six Internet of things devices that really shouldn't exist. Opgehaald van
www.wired.co.uk: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/strangest-internet-of-things-devices

Schneier, B. (2017, January 27). The internet of things dangerous future . Opgehaald van
www.selectall.com: http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/01/the-internet-of-things-dangerous-
future-bruce-schneier.html

Scott, A. ((n.d.).). 8 ways the Internet of things will change the way we live and work. Opgehaald van
www.theglobandmail.com: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-
magazine/the-future-is-smart/article24586994/

Slimme machines en het 'industrial Internet of things'. (2017, June 16). Opgehaald van
www.visionenrobotics.nl: https://www.visionenrobotics.nl/2017/06/16/slimme-machines-
en-het-industrial-internet-of-things/
United Nations . (2017, September 13). Will robots and AI cause mass Unempleyment? . Opgehaald
van www.un.org: https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/policy/will-robots-and-
ai-cause-mass-unemployment-not-necessarily-but-they-do-bring-other-threats.html

Vox. (2017, November 13). The big debate about the future of work . Opgehaald van Youtube.com:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUmyygCMMGA

Watson, L. (2017, April 14). 15 idiotic internet of Things devices that nobody asked for. Opgehaald
van www.gismodo.com: https://gizmodo.com/15-idiotic-internet-of-things-devices-nobody-
asked-for-1794330999

World Economic Forum. (2018). Internet of Things Guidelines for sustainability. The world economic
forum .