The 21st century brought about a massive tech revolution where we still reside today. After making the transition to the fifth industrial revolution, people have become quite used to rapid innovation, because of which, they expect even more efficient and effective tech solutions.
After the widespread of touch screen smartphones and the internet, smart technology and artificial intelligence are going to spearhead a new chapter of innovation. All of this has been changing and will continue to change how we work, communicate and live.
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The Rapid Rise of Smart Technology
Smart tech has been gaining momentum at a rapid pace that makes innovations look outdated within, years, or even months after they arrive. The term SMART is an abbreviation of Self Monitoring Analysis Reporting Technology. This technology makes use of big data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence for providing objects cognitive awareness. In most cases, the objects that get the SMART treatments were thought of as inanimate.
Ordinary items that people did not give too much thought to have become smart and benefit people in more ways than one. With so many smart items available these days, one might wonder about the ordinary items that eventually became “SMART”.
Smart Locks
Smart locks have gained immense popularity over the years because of the incredible convenience they offer. Gone are the days when people had to worry about unreliable locks that almost everyone could easily open. Unlike regular locks, smart locks are Bluetooth or Wi-Fi-enabled devices that do not require any key. Instead of using keys, users can unlock and lock their doors using voice commands or the simple tap of a finger.
These locks even offer remote access, allowing people to unlock doors without actually being there. For instance, if someone is at work and has a guest waiting outside their home, they can easily use their smart lock’s remote access feature to let the guest in. Unlike most smart devices, smart locks are relatively new, which means that this technology still has room for further improvements.
Some smart lock users rely on mobile apps and digital assistant support, while others use fingerprint scanning. All of these options are reliable and help users lock or unlock doors with great ease. Many companies have created highly sophisticated smart locks for improving home security. These locks have custom features specially designed for offering users maximum control. Needless to say, these locks offer way beyond what ordinary locks offer.
Smart Phones
Back in the early 80s, nobody expected a regular phone through such a massive transition. Believe it or not, many of the cell phones that people used early on were considered car phones, mainly because they were quite large and heavy to carry around in a purse or pocket. In 1983, however, Motorola introduced its Dyna Tack 8000x, which was considered a massive game-changer during that time.
What made this phone stand out from the others was its small size. This model was small enough to carry in the pockets or purses. As time passed, this phone became massive outdated as companies introduced models with a plethora of features that gave phones a whole new dimension.
It would be fair to say that the SMART treatment that phones received has changed the industry for the better. Modern smartphones allow users to access a ton of features other than simply making a call. Now, you can watch movies, play video games, browse the internet, take pictures and do plenty of other stuff with just one device that is no larger than the size of your palm.
The smartphone industry has rapidly become a multibillion-dollar industry because of the ever-increasing demand for these convenient phones. With rapid innovations in the smartphone industry, it would be fair to assume that future smartphones will offer a lot more.
Smart Containers
The shipping industry has been evolving ever since its advent. Initially, shipping operators merely used to keep cargo wherever it would fit in the ship. Of course, this was not the best way to ship goods as the cargo would be exposed to various elements that could damage it. After some time, companies started to use metal containers in order to store goods. These containers made things quite convenient for companies as they could ship a large amount of freight without going back and forth.
As time passed, smart containers were introduced and showcased that the shipping industry was truly evolving. A smart container is essentially a shipping container that makes of the Internet of Things, solar panels, and GPS tracking. These containers are significantly more secure than regular containers and help shipping companies, as well as their customers, track their cargo easily. With more and more companies ditching regular containers for their smart alternatives, one could expect shipping standards to improve tenfold in the coming years.