The rise of uber-smart technology

  I was part of the MIT Media Lab 15 years ago, and the theme we pursued was "Intelligent, Ubiquitous, Wearable", or to put it in simpler terms, "Smart, Everything, Always". We looked into the possibilities where such technology could boost the power of individuals.
 However, there are signs that such technology has finally become prevalent now, in this day and age. Perhaps the 15 years taken by devices such as PCs and smartphones to be connected together in a network was a prerequisite for this.

 Several examples of this are presenting themselves.
 In the state of Florida in America, a murder suspect's iPhone records were submitted to the court as evidence. The records included the murder suspect asking Siri, "I need to hide my roommate," to which Siri answered, "Swamps, reservoirs, metal foundries, dumps." This is what "smart" means.

 "Everything" will be connected via ubiquitous computing. With M2M technologies, home appliances, cars and robots will all be able to communicate with each other. Concurrently, with the spread of 3D printers, we will become able to create and distribute physical items as content. We can do this to anything and everything. Even in Japan, a man who created guns using a 3D printer received a 2-year prison sentence after being charged with a crime under the Ordnance Manufacturing Act.

 "Always". Mobile technology is a means for us to be connected "anytime". Wearable technology will do so "always". The switches will never be turned off. They will always be on.
 Bills were submitted in 8 states of the US regarding restrictions of the usage of "Google Glass" while driving. While they did not make it past Congress, enforcing them would be difficult even if they did. Even if it was worn, anyone could excuse themselves saying, "I didn't turn it on." It does not end there. It appears that a contact lens version will be making its appearance as well, so it will become impossible to tell if the device is being worn, or not. Even software that has functions to assist in driving will soon be developed, and there are likely to be advocates that insist, "It is safer to install them."

 Multi-device systems, cloud networks, and social services together form up a complete set of "smart" technology, and we are now moving toward the next stage of intelligent, ubiquitous, and wearable technology. "Uber-smart" technology, so to speak.