If there's one thing for certain, technology seems to change at an exponential rate, leading many of us to ponder what exactly the future will hold. According to a new Pew Research report, we can all expect one thing by the year 2025: a connected world around us dubbed the "Internet of Things."

Twilight Zone interpretations of the year 2000 simply won't do anymore, which is why Pew asked almost 2,000 experts the simple open-ended question about the future of the Internet by 2025. The consensus, despite varying opinions on its final form, seems to be that our world will become connected in a way the Internet has connected different forms of data, "like electricity," away from the naked eye.  

The report found four main changes the surveyed expect by 2025:

- A global, immersive, invisible, ambient networked computing environment built through the continued proliferation of smart sensors, cameras, software, databases, and massive data centers in a world-spanning information fabric known as the Internet of Things.

- "Augmented reality" enhancements to the real-world input that people perceive through the use of portable/wearable/implantable technologies.

- Disruption of business models established in the 20th century (most notably impacting finance, entertainment, publishers of all sorts, and education).

- Tagging, databasing, and intelligent analytical mapping of the physical and social realms.

Many also believe that the Internet of Things will include our own organic bodies, a step that will drastically change healthcare.

"One positive effect of 'ubiquitous computing,' as it used to be called, will be much faster, more convenient, and lower-cost medical diagnostics. This will be essential if we are to meet the health care needs of a rapidly aging Baby Boomer generation," survey respondent Patrick Tucker says. Tucker is also the author of "The Naked Future: What Happens In a World That Anticipates Your Every Move?"

Cities and everyday objects from kitchen appliances to cars to emergency response systems should all one day be able to coordinate in a more efficient manner than when controlled by a human.

"The Internet of Things will also improve safety in cities, as cars, networked to one another and their environment, will better avoid collisions, coordinate speed, etc. We will all be able to bring much more situational intelligence to bear on the act of planning our day, avoiding delays (or unfortunate encounters), and meeting our personal goals," Tucker said.

"We are entering the telemetric age-an age where we create information in everything that we do. As computation continues to grow less costly, we will incorporate more data-collecting devices into our lives."

Of course, all of this comes at a cost. Collecting and disseminating the kind of data needed for the Internet of Things to function properly will require enormous surveillance and tracking measures — touchy subjects in the dawn of the cyberage. 

Check back soon for a second, more in-depth look at the Pew Report and the Internet of Things.

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