Smart technology is everywhere today. We find the technology in our pockets via smartphones and many of us own a variety of smart devices in our homes. Yet, it seems like many people aren’t entirely sure what smart technology means.
The ‘smart’ term certainly did not originate with the invention of mobile phones. When the Nokia brand was all the rage back in the 1990s, people just call their hand-held phones as handphone, cellphone or mobile phone. So, it seems like we only began to use the term ‘smartphone’, when mobile phones with touchscreen begin to appear. However, smart technology actually has nothing to do with the touchscreen technology.
To put it simply, “smart technology” refers to devices that use advanced software, sensors, and connectivity to communicate with other devices. This connectivity of devices can automate tasks and these days, even learn from user behavior with artificial intelligence (AI).
The Origins of the ‘Smart’ Term
Are you still wondering why the devices are regarded as “smart”? There are many opinions and debates about the origins of this term but I guess some people regard the devices as ‘smart’ because they can simplify some aspects of modern living. In other words, we can rely on smart devices to perform some functions autonomously that would otherwise require manual effort.
Think of a “smart” device as a gadget with its own brain. This “brain” allows it to process information, make decisions, and even anticipate your needs. Within the context of a so called dumb machine, those human-like abilities do sound fascinating. I mean, have not many of us scolded at a machine before for being stupid? However, our AI-infused machines seem to be becoming increasingly smart!
So, what is your opinion? Are modern smart devices really intelligent thinking machines or are they still dumb machines? Well, humanoid robots are a reality now, although their intelligence and abilities are perceived to be still quite far off from the average human being. On the other hand, robots are capable of doing things that many human beings cannot do.
As time passes, it seems like producing a real human being and raising a baby to full adulthood takes much more effort and resources than mass producing humanoid robots. So, are we really heading towards a dystopian future where robots will rule over humans?
Anyway, let’s not fret over a imagined future that may never come but should we at least take a deeper look into what is smart technology? Let’s see if it is all cracked up to be.
A Brief History of Smart Technology
The journey of smart technology actually began long before smartphones and smartwatches became part of our daily lives. The concept started taking shape in the 1980s when computers began to shrink in size and become more affordable. The first significant milestone in smart technology was the introduction of the first “smart” device. This was the personal digital assistant (PDA), released in the early 1990s.
As the internet expanded and evolved, so did the potential for smart technology. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, we saw the birth of the Internet of Things (IoT). This is a concept where everyday objects could be connected to the internet, enabling them to send and receive data. The IoT concept is now very much a reality. Within just a few decades, the technology has now tremendously proliferated pretty much all over the world. Today, we have smart gadgets, smart homes, and even smart cities.
You may not realize it, but our smartphones were actually the game-changer that brought smart technology into the mainstream. With the iPhone’s release in 2007, a device in our pockets suddenly held the computing power of a desktop computer.
As we know, millions upon millions of us can connect to the Internet from pretty much anywhere. This exponential wave of smart digitization paved the way for the explosion of apps and smart devices. With just a typical smartphone, we can now access money with a digital wallet and even invest in cryptocurrencies, which is akin to having a bank in our pockets.
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How to Use Smart Technology More Effectively in Daily Life
We can actually perform a lot of tasks with our smartphones but most users do not make use of the advanced features. Our phones will not truly be smart if all it can do is make calls, send texts and access social media.
So, here are just a handful of simple examples on how you can harness the potential of smart technology:
- Voice Assistants:
Most smartphones come with built-in voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa. You should start to use them more often to enjoy a more hands-free digital life. If you suffer from hyperopia (long sightedness), these voice assistants could be very helpful indeed. - Smart Home Automation:
You can control your smart home devices like lights, thermostats, or security cameras from your smartphone. You can also remotely activate smart locks, adding an extra layer to your home security. - Health Monitoring:
Many smart apps can help keep track of your physical health and wearable smart devices are also quite trendy. For example, there are apps that count your steps, monitor your heart rate or analyze your sleep patterns. You can certainly use these features to help you set daily fitness goals. - Smartphone Automation:
Have you tried to explore the automation features on your phone yet? E.g. look for a ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode which you can activate just before bedtime. You should also find a driving mode which you should activate when on the road along with many other automation features.
You can do a smart thing now.
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What Is Smart Technology?
The Future of Smart Technology in Smartphones
As smart technology continues to evolve, you can bet that many smart innovations will find its way into smartphones. This is due to smartphones being the most ubiquitous digital device around the world.
Here are a few predictions for smart technologies:
- Augmented Reality (AR) Integration:
AR could become a standard feature in future smartphones. The tech allows you to overlay digital information onto the real world through your phone’s camera and this could revolutionize industries such as shopping, gaming, and education. - Advanced AI Personalization: Artificial intelligence (AI) could take personalization to the next level. The AI in your phone can learn your habits so well that your voice assistant anticipates your needs before you even issue a command. At this point of time, we can only imagine how having a 24/7 AI assistant could transform our lives.
- Seamless IoT Connectivity: Future smartphones could serve as a crucial central hub for all your smart devices. With even more seamless integration, the smartphone will allow the user to live a truly digitally connected lifestyle. Your fridge, car, kettle and other devices will be all in sync with your phone. As more computing power and apps are packed into the smartphone, we can expect battery life to improve.
- Biometric Advancements: Fingerprint sensors and facial recognition are already quite common. As biometric technology becomes more advanced, we can expect computer vision technology to advance by leaps and bounds too. Our future smartphones may very well augment our natural vision in sophisticated ways.
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Conclusion
Smart technology has come a long way from its humble beginnings. In just about three decades, various smart technologies have significantly shaped and transformed how we live, work and communicate. By understanding and leveraging the smart features already in your smartphone, you can enhance your daily life and stay ahead of the curve as new technologies emerge.
Try using voice commands more often to get tasks done or link up your phone with other smart devices. Once you start exploring the lesser-known features in your smartphone, your life may become simpler, more seamless, and more efficient. This however does not mean we should neglect digital wellness. As our daily life become more digitized, we should learn to place more priority on data privacy and remember to maintain an optimum balance of online and offline activities.
In the coming years, we can expect the IoT industry to continue to expand and advance. While it seems like many people are still apprehensive about artificial intelligence (AI), in time, we might come to appreciate some of the technological advancements. After all, who can say that email, search engines and social media had not revolutionized the world?
