Smart Technology: Methods, Contexts and Consequences

Smart Technologies emerged during the first half of the 2010s. Although several constituent components of this technology have been in existence for many years, it is only in recent time they come close to each other and start to function as a unit. The availability of handheld devices with wireless capabilities, the rise of cloud storage facilities and highspeed wireless and broadband internet, and a significant improvement in the computational power of the microprocessors led us to generate a massive amount of raw information on the fly. This information, commonly known as Big Data, opens up the opportunity to manage and provide services by analysing them applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques such as machine learning.

Along with the devices, networks and cloud storages, AI empowers us with smart technologies such as smart cities, homes, grids, transportations, and so on. Smart technologies are combinations of multiple disruptive technologies such as sensor networks, Internet of Things, data science, blockchain technology and ubiquitous computing. These technologies play a role in making a subject `smart'. For example, a city collects data from its citizen and non-living elements to make adequate decisions while a grid aims to reduce energy misuses and maximise renewable consumption. In doing so, smart technologies also look after the potential consequences and anything deemed concerning the consumers requires elimination.

There are three broad components in each smart technology: methods, contexts and consequences. The method entails individual bodies of knowledge including the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence etc. while the context refers to the domain such as cities, homes and cars and consequences mostly suggest issues and policies concerning privacy and security.

This book series focuses on Smart Technologies and covers topics that are blends of two or all of these components.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal for a book to be included in this series, please contact [email protected]