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'When anything is possible, what do we build?' asks Jordan Holberg, director of technology at TBWA\Chiat\Day NY

By Jordan Holberg

January 14, 2014 | 3 min read

Last Monday, Intel unveiled its Edison microcomputer, based on the Quark microprocessor. It’s an extremely small, self-contained computer, running two operating systems, with storage, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities built in. It’s also the size of and functions as an SD card; one could theoretically plug it into any number of devices that already accept such a form factor and have a much smarter device.

Jordan Holberg

Edison is significant not only because of its technical achievements in scale and function, but more so because of its implications in the larger internet of things – a buzzy term for connected, always-on devices. When the computer and form factor become so small and so powerful that the barrier of “is this possible” crumbles into “what should we build first?” the possibilities become endless. The internet of things seeks to connect not just industrial applications for smarter monitoring of machinery and science but also devices and objects that hit much closer to home: vending machine and t-shirts, refrigerators and traffic lights, bracelets and microwaves.

A debate can be had around the notion that one’s coffeepot has no inherent desire to let anyone know how it’s feeling; that the trend of fitness-related wristbands is self-serving, silly and ultimately a one-trick pony; that this is all a further erosion of our privacy and civil liberties. But our vehicles already call home and provide human assistance from anywhere with the touch of a button. Sharks in Australia tweet when they’re close to shore. The phone, if we can even still call it that, in your pocket, is a Thing connected to the Internet. Privacy implications (which are very real) aside, these are certainly very useful innovations, fueled by a connected, information-hungry culture and a technical infrastructure that supports it. Maybe your toothbrush shouldn’t communicate usage back to its manufacturer, but maybe it should to your dentist.

The smaller the processor and computer, the more flexible the form factor. Designers, creatives and entrepreneurs can focus on the end-product without the tech getting in the way. When everything is connected, the data grows exponentially, revealing trends and insights where previously there may have only been directional or anecdotal evidence. Inspiration comes before creation, and the internet of things allows for more data, more insight, to inspire and ignite. Understanding our world and how we interact with it can only be good, but we must make sure to do so in a thoughtful, conscientious way, where our lust for information doesn’t disconnect the humanity behind it.

Jordan Holberg is director of technology at TBWA\Chiat\Day NY

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