The Basics of Modern Tech Explained

Finnegan Pierson

The technology of today is truly incredible. Modern tech has reached a point at which even small, incremental updates can massively improve the quality of life of users and the efficiency of businesses. However, technology is known for its complexity, and that can be a huge barrier to entry for the average person. Here’s what you need to know about the basics of today’s most powerful tech.

The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things, also known as IoT, is an accurate term, but not one that’s incredibly descriptive, meaning that it’s easy for it to bounce off the understanding of the average person who hears or reads about it. However, IoT is more of a design philosophy than anything else, and it’s one that has impacted much of daily life, even for those who have no idea what it entails.

The smartphone is a great everyday example of this technology, because the fundamental IoT philosophy is that of using internet connectivity to augment the capabilities of a given device and, more importantly, allowing them to connect with each other, forming a network. It’s no surprise, then, that smartphone apps often serve as the means to remote-control IoT devices. Likewise, a hub device is typically required for a smart home or a smart office, because it gives users a central device that can manipulate or monitor the others. Typically, IoT devices contain sim cards with an ICCID number to allow the tracking of the device, as well as additional functionality.

The primary use case for IoT technology is either a smart home or a smart office. A smart home is one that uses IoT devices and apps to simplify various mundane tasks. For example, smart light bulbs can allow users to control all of the lights in their homes using an app or voice commands via a virtual assistant. On the other hand, a smart office tends to incorporate a variety of apps focused on reducing the labor involved in clerical tasks such as accounting and payroll. In both cases, the goal of IoT networks is to make life easier and more convenient, and the results thus far are promising.

Cloud Technology

Like IoT tech, cloud storage is far more common than the knowledge of what it is or how it works. Email services, for example, are a form of cloud storage, because the term simply refers to storing digital files in a remote location, offered as a service. Cloud storage has seen widespread use as a means of accessing various files on multiple devices and recovering data in the event of a hardware failure. For example, the average cloud storage platform allows users to easily access their files from their phone and computer alike, and it also gives users the ability to store all of their photos in a safe place, allowing them to keep all their personal pictures, even if their phone is irreparably damaged.

Cloud computing, however, is more of an edge case. While it’s a promising technology, it hasn’t seen a lot of use among consumers. Primarily, cloud computing offers businesses, as well as entrepreneurs, the ability to compute things more quickly and easily, which is important when it comes to resource-intensive computations such as compiling a program for testing and/or release or analyzing data. There have notable cases of cloud computing as a consumer service as well, though they’re currently few and far between. For example, cloud gaming services are currently in their infancy, but you can expect similar concepts coming out of the woodwork as the technology becomes more cost-effective and more advanced.

While much of this technology is mind-bogglingly complex to the layperson, it will only become even more deeply entrenched in daily life. Therefore, it helps to understand the basics of the latest and greatest advancements. Becoming a tech wizard may be difficult, but it’s also not necessary for most people. These tips can help you learn just enough to get by.