Simply turn on the television, and you’ll eventually hear “5G.†By now, most people are already familiar with the phrase Internet of Things (IoT). Although people have heard these terms, do they really know what they are, how they affect their lives, or how they coexist? What do you really know about 5G and the IoT?
As with most things in life, 5G and the IoT have pros and cons. But what about those things you never considered? This article discuss all three.
Pros
The IoT is already integrated into many of our lives in positive ways. Once 5G technology is fully integrated, the effects on IoT will only continue to grow.
Better, Faster, Smarter
When discussing the pros of 5G and IoT, the most obvious is the speed at which we will be connected. Not only will our devices connect to the internet faster, but they will also connect to each other at lightning-quick speeds, allowing us to remain in constant contact with everything and everyone. This includes doctors, hospitals, grocery stories, mechanics, schools, babysitters, and employers. This constant contact will provide us with an instant response mechanism, real-time feedback and interaction, and the ability to have immediate communication with other people or automated systems.
Smart Cities
Using 5G and the IoT, smart cities will have the ability to automate traffic monitoring, video surveillance, and waste management. In addition, smart cities can incorporate automated systems that not only save time and money but also collect data remotely, such as bike rentals, taxi systems, parking meters, and visitor centers.
Cons
Although 5G and the IoT will positively affect our lives in many ways, some areas should still cause us concern.
High-Speed Connection Equals High-Speed Risks
Using 5G, more and more devices will have the ability to connect to high-speed networks. Typically, this would be cause for celebration. These faster speeds and more connected devices, however, are leading us to a high-speed risk. With an increased number of users, malicious hackers, and other cybercriminals will have more devices than ever to choose from. Once a device on this high-speed network has been infected, the viruses or malware will spread to more people, and they will spread faster. Not only will viruses or malware travel faster, but these high speeds can make cybercriminals harder to track and harder to stop.
Sacrificing Power for More
We all want more power in our equipment—to do more, to be faster, to give us what we want when we want it. To get more, however, we will need to consume more power. When compared to their 4G counterparts, 5G IoT devices such as smartphones, security cameras, and virtual reality (VR) equipment are power hungry. This will force both consumers and manufacturers to make a choice if they want to remain mobile—increase the number of battery changes a device will require over its lifetime or increase the frequency that a device needs to be charged in a day.
Some Things You Never Considered
5G and the IoT will affect our lives, our families, our homes, and our businesses in many ways beyond the pros and cons listed earlier. The following are a few things you may have never considered.
Improving the Health of the General Population
In addition to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and VR, you may have never considered the innovations that the 5G IoT will bring to the health care industry. These innovations could improve not only how doctors talk to each other but also high-definition surgeries, allowing experts to weigh in on procedures from anywhere in the world and medical teams to exchange ideas and expertise, working together to find a solution. Using better technology and higher resolution, earlier detection could lead to improved diagnoses and better outcomes. Using predictive behavior software, doctors could even predict health issues or problems, leading to earlier intervention and improved health for the overall population.
AI and ML
5G and the IoT will reach much farther and do much more than we could ever imagine. Using AI and ML, our smart devices will become even smarter, collecting information on our habits, patterns of use, and daily activities. This information could aid us in saving money and decreasing waste, which, over the long term, could aid in societal issues, such as decreasing waste in landfills.
As we look to the next stage of our technological future, the 5G IoT shines as a beacon of innovation. Business, productivity, health care, and even the devices we’ve come to rely on and use daily are bound for bigger, better, and faster as the next-generation deployment grows ever closer. Before lunging headfirst into that next realm of technology, take a moment to weigh the pros and cons for yourself, your family, and your company or organization.