The Internet of Everything

"The Internet of Everything" is an eye-opening journey into the highly digital and interconnected world we live in today. It breaks down how all aspects of our lives are already fully immersed within the Internet, and we have not noticed. We depend on the Internet so much that even to imagine not having any online access is mind-boggling.

The rapid development of the Internet is a watershed moment for the planet. It has changed humanity forever. And if you think that might sound dramatic - it's not. Whether we are conscious of it or not, the internet influences what we do, what we want, what we need and even how we learn and process information and, of course, how we use our time.

In the beginning, it was where to share what we know with other people. It was only one form of information and entertainment, besides traditional media, books and more. The Internet was truly democratic, open and fun!

But as with all things, it evolved into the "Internet of Things", where physical objects would connect and share various data that, once processed, could help us improve our lives. Today, we live in smart houses, drive smart cars, own smart refrigerators where they all talk to each other, sharing data to make life easier and more efficient.

And beyond our homes, our communities and cities are now online as well, monitoring traffic, crime, pollution, petrol use and more. There are now hundreds of collection points for data that, when processed and analyzed, will show the patterns of how we live and present solutions.

So from the "Internet of Things", we now cross into "The Internet of Everything", where people, things, the Internet, and data intersect. The question is, what happens to this data? Who is collecting it? How is it processed, and where is it used?

Our health data, for example, collected by the various gadgets and apps we use to monitor our physical well-being, are now either being sold to or used by health insurance companies to set your insurance premiums.

They've taken it a step further in China by experimenting with social credits. You receive incentives in the form of cash etc., if you are a good citizen by paying bills on time, taking public transport, you don't jaywalk (monitored by CCTV) and more. However, you'll also get punished by not being allowed to travel, for example, if you have a low social credit score.

Technology is already influencing your beliefs and modifying your behavior, but it will be a more formal and monetized process if social credits take hold.

So what does the future of the Internet - and a fully digitized and connected humanity - hold? Will it be a true utopia where tech and our physical autonomy peacefully coexist, and we freely share what we know? Or an Orwellian dystopia where Big Brother isn't just watching but actively moving you around the chessboard and making all your decisions for you? We'll soon find out.