HW9: Reflections

I mostly agree with the points that Saurabh makes in his article about the future of programming. It seems that new technology is being developed faster than old technology is being replaced. As our way of life continues to evolve, so too will IoT, becoming more and more invasive in our everyday lives.

I agree that data is one of the most valuable resources in today’s technology industry and that data collection algorithms will continue to evolve as new technological innovations are made. It is what shapes the technology that companies produce for consumers. From user interface design to machine learning, companies will collect data from everything that we use in our everyday lives. As a result of this increased need for data collection, the security requirements of our technology will equally grow in comparison. I agree with Saurabh’s assertion that we will face dire consequences if programmers do not make their computers secure. As we saw with the Spy Car Act of 2015 and the article “Security and Privacy Vulnerabilities of In-Car Wireless Networks: A Tire Pressure Monitoring System Case Study”, we saw that if something can be hacked, then there will be someone that, for whatever reason, wants to hack it.

I disagree with the claim that people are going to start replacing their pcs with consoles. Consoles are affordable options for providing great video gaming experiences however they pale in comparison to the power of a pc. People will purchase whatever devices are available in the market that suite their needs. If video gaming is their priority then they will likely be inclined to settle for a console. However, if all they need is something like Microsoft office, they might just buy a cheap Surface Go instead of a pc. Ultimately, with the limitless options provided by modern pcs, it seems unlikely that they would ever be flat out replaced by any other device, console or otherwise.

As for the prediction that the law will redefine the limits of technological innovation, I only half agree. I believe that law makers will not have the clairvoyance to preemptively act on advancements in IoT and will only genuinely consider passing laws impacting IoT if it effects their lives, whether from personally being the victims of a cyber-attack or being pressured to act by their constituents. Even still, it seems extremely unlikely that any legislative body would be able to continually pass laws and keep up with the unprecedented rate at which technology advances.

“Web users are an impatient lot these days”, this may be the most accurate statement in all of Saurabh’s article. When faced with a choice, consumers will most likely always choose the easiest and cheapest option. For example, being able to buy groceries on Amazon and having them delivered to your door, or BlockBuster going out of business as people chose the convenience of streaming services such as Netflix instead of having to physically drive to a store. This is why I believe the use of the cloud will dominate the future. It allows developers to get their web products and services to their consumers faster and cheaper than ever before. As our technology grows, so will our insatiable appetites for any and all consumer products, resulting in more data collection, more security requirements, and more innovations.