The truth about humans is that we strive for the perfect society, in which people are equal in every aspect, and live in harmony, with no crimes or any problems; a world in which we can fulfill all our wants and needs. Simply put, we want to achieve Utopia. Since greater importance has been put on technology, and increasingly on the Internet of things, many people see the potential that Utopia could be reached, and the terms "techno-utopia" should not be overlooked. By definition, techno-utopianism is the belief that the advances in modern technology will bring about change in society and eventually create a utopia (Alawadhi, 2012). With Internet of things, many people believe that the world would become a better and safer place, where technology will enhance and facilitate people's lives. However, there are always two sides of a coin.
Many have opposed that Utopia is too perfect to happen. It is highly impossible for humans to reach such perfection, and that the Internet of things will eventually give rise to a "technocracy'', which people and society are ruled by technology. This paper is intended to clarity the opposing view of the Utopia with the belief that we will never achieve it. Internet of things is just hype in achieving utopia. Yet, with greater influence technology and Internet of things has on our lives, it is worth mentioning the potentials that they could bring about Utopia.
[...] Techno-utopians say that Internet of things will facilitate humans' lives in every aspect, but I would say the opposite. Smart objects will reduce people's situational awareness or even the ability to think and make decision. For instance, having car that can control speed or manage how a person drive could cause a person to be more careless when driving. The driver might think that he could drive anyway he want and if any unanticipated circumstances happen, the car will handle the problems for him. [...]
[...] (2011, October 26). A long road to the Internet of Things. Business Spectator. Retrieved from www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2011/10/25/technology/long-road- internet-things Leiser, M. (2011). Panopticon as a metaphor of the Internet of Things. Retrieved from www.theinternetofthings.eu/sites/default/files/Rob%20van%20Kranenburg/ Panopticon%20as%20metaphor%20for%20the%20IoT_GS%20Dec2011.pdf Schump, P. (2010). The "internet of things": The internet of hype. [...]
[...] When they know how individuals are using individual products, then individually focused advertising and controlling would become possible, and this could be a major intrusion. We will simply be a targeted to such technologies. The utopian point of view states that Internet of things will fulfill all our wants and needs. Yes, it is true, but only at the expense of ourselves, because we will be fed with the things that we want and need, and these things come with price tags. [...]
[...] Digital Dictatorship. Retrieved from http://auknewmedia.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/techno-utopia-vs-digital- dictatorship/ Brancaccio, D. (n.d.). The medical Internet of things and the future of health care. Marketplace Tech Report. Retrieved from http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/medical-internet-things-and- future-health-care Glance, D. (2011). The Internet of Things - this is where we're going. The Conversation. Retrieved March from http://theconversation.edu.au/the-internet-of-things-this-is-where- were-going-3965 Glance, D. [...]
[...] Many people believe that there is a possibility that Internet of things could bring about Utopia. Technology and the Internet of things will make revolutionary change in how we interact with our environment and, more importantly, how we live our lives (Glance, 2011). Safety, healthcare, and overall quality of life are and will continue to see major improvements created by the Internet of Things. According to techno-utopianism, once these issues are handled, the society, and eventually the world, would become utopian. [...]
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