The Internet of Thneeds

Internet of Things: “a world where physical objects are seamlessly integrated into the information network, and where the physical objects can become active participants.” — Stephan Haller, SAP Research, 2009

“This thing is a Thneed. A Thneed’s a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need” —The Once-ler, 1971

With the proliferation of wearable technology, RFIDs, self-driving cars and the Quantified Self movement, it’s clear that The Internet of Things has moved beyond trendy, PowerPoint slide fodder and into the Real World of Things.

Quantified Self: Life by the Numbers

(By Jason Reagan)

Socrates famously wrote “the life which is unexamined is not worth living” — a sentiment shared by the Quantified Self movement.  The idea is grounded in the belief that by using the latest technology, we can enhance the quality of life by quantifying and analyzing our steady stream of biological data from our mood, to our bio-stats (blood sugar, insulin, cortisol) to our sleep cycles.

And while the concept may be sound, the idea of corralling the stampede of biometrics we exude every day — not to mention every hour — once too complicated before the advent of “wearable” tech.