The Robots may be Watching you – But they’re Sometimes on your Side
Historically, remote tracking software such as RTUs and surveillance technology have been viewed with scepticism by the masses.
This is embodied by the controversy that surrounds extensive CCTV networks in the UK, while the revelations that governments have used software to access private emails has also raised concerns over the scope of ‘Big Brother’ in the digital age.
Like all types of technology, however, tracking software and sensors are vulnerable to the machinations of each individual user, meaning that they can be used for the good of society in many instances. We’ve listed some examples below, and asked why they have such a positive benefit for businesses and households.
- Remote Telemetry Units (RTUs) and Site Management
We start with RTUs, which are specialist tech products that collate and communicate real-time data from corporal objects.
Powered by the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), RTU units can be operated and accessed and operated remotely, enabling owners of multi-site corporations to optimise time and cost efficiencies across all of their locations.
Often used to reduce energy consumption and identify potential faults ahead of time, these products can also monitor remote sites and the harshest imaginable locations, while using any garnered data to optimise safety.
- Remote Patient Monitoring
Exciting technological advancements have been made in the field of medicine in recent times, including the creation of electronic patient records and the sharing of accurate data between healthcare professionals in real-time.
The NHS is also trialling technology aimed at empowering dementia patients and similarly afflicted individuals to live independently for longer. This will also see physical, household objects such as fridges fitted with smart sensors, which monitor patients remotely and collate data to ensure they’re eating, drinking and washing regularly.
This could save the UK’s public health services considerable sums of money, while also ensuring that patients can continue to enjoy their home comforts safely and securely. Wearable technology will also be deployed as part of this drive, to monitor health metrics remotely and identify potential issues.
- Fitness Tracker Apps
On a similar note, it’s impossible to escape the way in which fitness tracking apps have revolutionised our lives and empowered us in our efforts to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
From apps that track food calorie content to others that measure our heart-rate and physical performance during exercise, it has never been easier to cultivate effective dietary and fitness regimes.
This technology is certainly one of the more simplistic applications of remote tracking technology, but it has incredibly positive connotations and can certainly motivate us in our pursuit of higher living standards.
