In the May, 2013 issue of Wired magazine, there was an article entitled “In the Programmable World, All our Objects will Act as One”. It’s about the ubiquitous electronic devices that collect data on us and our environment in so many ways. These devices are beginning to talk with one another and soon we’ll be in a situation where we’ll be able to make them do many things for us. Sure seems that those who can program will be able to use those interactions to their benefit and we hope the benefit of others. This programmable world is coming much faster than people realize.
“In our houses, cars, and factories, we’re surrounded by tiny, intelligent devices that capture data about how we live and what we do. Now they are beginning to talk to one another. Soon we’ll be able to choreograph them to respond to our needs, solve our problems, even save our lives.”
Embedding data transfer abilities in every product will certainly vanquish any last doubt that we live in the world of Big Brother. And imagine the power needs of such a world, and the environmental consequences of producing so much electricity. Although the brave new cyberworld will certainly save a few lives and solve some problems, these benefits are far outweighed by the costs. More computation is not the answer.