There has been a great deal of talk about ubiquity in computing for the past few years, culminating in the fact that it is much closer than we think. But what does this mean for the world and the Internet? 

Mostly, ubiquity means that nearly every device in your home contains a small, internet-enabled processor that can perform several functions but most specifically the creation and storage of data. It won’t be an Intel Core i8 in your stove, but possibly an Atom or ARM9. 

This will allow for all kinds of data interaction that wasn’t possible before. Your home network will expand to become a data mesh constantly updating from your appliances. Your fridge is out of milk, your stove’s self-cleaning cycle is complete, the kettle is boiling, a pipe has ruptured in the sink. All of it is ready now, or nearing readiness. This will also mean that bandwidth must expand in order for these billions of extra devices to share the Internet with standard computers without download speeds around the world becoming untenable. 

Honestly, we aren’t ready. Fibre Optic cabling isn’t even fully established around the world, especially in the US, where this technology will break ground. Even WiMAX 4G remains a dream for the future, as fast as it may be spreading. If ubiquitous computing enters the consumer market, the Internet will be unable to keep up. We will drown in a sea of data created by the everyday objects which used to remain silent. But at least everything could auto-adjust to Daylight Savings Time and tweet about what they’re doing. “@fridge10923: I’m out of milk!!”.