Big Data and the Internet of Things Means the Surveillance of Everything

Article: Invasion of the Data Snatchers

 I think this quote from the article provides an interesting intro into the topic this article covers:
"[W]e estimate that only one percent of things that could have an IP address do have an IP address today, so we like to say that ninety-nine percent of the world is still asleep," Padmasree Warrior, Cisco's Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, told the Silicon Valley Summit in December. "It’s up to our imaginations to figure out what will happen when the ninety-nine percent wakes up."

 The article looks at some of the ways in which technology will slowly creep (pun intended) into all areas of our lives, and as such, collect information in the form of Big Data. As cool as it sounds to have a fridge that tells you when you run out of eggs and milk, the writer explores some of the darker sides to all this power. In particular, I liked her exploration of the effects on democracy and political expression. I like the idea of having smart gadgets and devices all around me, but the writer makes you think about the power it places in the hands of those who control the information. She looks at the possibilities not only in terms of the near future, but explores how these trends will play a role in our lives in the decades to come as technology's power and prevalence grows.