You only have to look at Apple's iPad or Lenovo tablets to see that technology has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years. 4G internet and computer systems like Windows 8 have bought gadgets into the 21st century but with many aspects of our life now revolving around some kind of technology-enhanced device – have we taken things a little too far?

Well, some may say yes. These days it seems we can't even drive a car or lock a door without being connected to the web and things don't look set to change any time soon. In fact, they seem to be getting even more intricate with a concept known as the Internet of Things (IoT) proving a major theme at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which takes place annually in Las Vegas.

First coined back in 1999 by British technology pioneer Kevin Ashton, IoT is now used to loosely describe anything that connects the Internet with the real world. From smart cars to navigations devices, remote-controlled locks to wearable technology (not to mention smartphones and tablets) there are an endless number of gadgets these days that require you to be connected to the World Wide Web.

Take Sen.se’s Mother, for instance. This household management gadget stood out from the crowd at CES and is essentially designed to oversee the running of a home. Complete with the Mother hub and a series of Motion Cookie sensors that can be attached just about everywhere, this gadget can detect everything from motion to temperature changes. It can even tell you if you’re doing enough exercise or if your dog is behaving itself and sends all of the collected data to a smart device for you to see.

This kind of technology is undeniably quirky but is it unnecessarily invasive? Will it make the human race lazier than they already are or is it simply assisting us as we go about our busy lives? Of course, one can always argue that nobody is forced to buy such technology but when it exists the temptation is always there.

There are also a vast amount of applications, which embrace the Internet of Things concept including Noise Urban Maps that monitor the noise in bars in real time and Smart Roads, which offers warnings and diversions depending on the conditions. Sensor applications also include Smart Parking, which monitors parking spaces in the city as well as Smart Lighting which allows street lights to adapt according to the weather and many more.

Look at many devices and you'll also come across a host of augmented reality-enhanced apps, which also have the ability to superimpose things like graphics and images onto real-life objects in real time. With TouchMountain, for instance, you can point your phone or tablet to a particular mountain and the app will tell you its name, how many peaks it has and what routes are best for hiking.

The main question is: Does this sort of technology disrupt the natural world around us or does it enhance it and make the world a better place? Surely if we use it sensibly it won't cause harm but will we always use it with caution? There really are too many queries that need answering but do you find the Internet of Things clever or creepy?

Author Bio
Debbie Fletcher is an enthusiastic, experienced writer who has written for a range of difference magazines and news publications. Follow her here: @Debbie_Fletch18