Technological advancement has been rapidly changing people’s lives for decades, and this process is accelerating. The areas of smart technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) are developing especially rapidly. Khan et al. (2017) define IoT as “the interconnection of different objects through the Internet using different communication technologies” (p.17). In practice, this is implemented in smart home technology, which is now available primarily to wealthy people. However, soon these advancements will become more affordable and have profound effects on people’s lives.
One can give numerous examples of how technological advancements are influencing people’s lives. Some of the changes are related to how information is accessed and used; others concern education, medical technologies, the financial sphere, and the labor market. One of the most striking examples is the changes in people’s everyday lives. A few decades ago, older generations spent much time and energy cleaning, cooking, and the like. Now everything is different; washing machines, electric stoves, multicookers, blenders, and coffee machines have greatly simplified most everyday issues. One can assume that further technicalization is what awaits the global society next in this area. The next step will probably be the widespread introduction of smart home systems that are already available to wealthy people (Darby, 2017). One can also assume that these systems will become smarter, acquiring AI properties. Refrigerators will automatically detect the products that are in short supply and automatically order their delivery. Kitchen gadgets will measure portions of food and cooking time, saving one from oversalting or overcooking the dish. Robot vacuums will work better so that people will not have to spend time cleaning.
The advancements described above will make people’s lives easier, but the changes will not stop there. The time that was previously spent on household services for oneself and one’s family will be freed. A person will be able to spend it on work, rest, and self-development. Moreover, given the fact that women still bear the main household burden in many countries, technological advancements will contribute to greater gender equality. Consequently, such seemingly small and purely practical changes will have an immense impact on the economy, labor market, and society.
References
Darby, S. J. (2017). Smart technology in the home: time for more clarity. Building Research & Information, 46(1), 140–147.
Khan, A. A., Rehmani, M. H., & Rachedi, A. (2017). Cognitive-Radio-Based Internet of Things: Applications, Architectures, Spectrum Related Functionalities, and Future Research Directions. IEEE Wireless Communications, 24(3), 17–25.