Do you think that advertising is invasive enough? If so, you might be sorely disappointed by Google's latest prediction that advertising, facilitated by the “Internet of Things,” could soon find a home on your car's dashboard or even on your refrigerator or washing machine. This official remark from the company comes in the wake of Google's $3.2 billion purchase of Nest, a company that makes smart thermostats which use the Internet and various sensors to provide users with temperature control enhanced by voice and mobile commands.
Google's statement appears in the context of a formal filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which was made in December 2013 but only recently released. Already there is a decent amount of backlash from various groups, including Nest CEO and Founder Tony Faddel. “We have nothing against ads – after all, Nest does lots of advertising,” he notes. “We just don't think ads are right for the Nest user experience.”
Approximately 95 percent of Google's revenue is generated from online advertising, which means that they have an obvious stake in the matter of expanding the visibility of advertisements. Due to the fact that more and more common appliances like Nest thermostats are using the Internet to enhance their service, the infrastructure and the platforms for advertising will shortly be taken advantage of.
All in all, smart devices will change the face of advertising, and even wearable devices like smartwatches and digital eyewear could become platforms for advertising. As intrusive as this all seems, consider the fact that advertising already surrounds us through existing technology. Ads appearing on a car's dashboard may seem frightening today, but you probably already hear plenty of ads on the radio during your daily drives. Similarly, ads already appear in your home through television, computer advertisements, and even mobile devices while using certain apps or websites. Yes, advertising will be more common on a broader diversity of channels as the Internet of Things takes flight. Regardless, things are not likely to change much in the long run.
Edited by
Rory J. Thompson
