Ever wonder when machines will take over the world?  If you’re thinking that it won’t happen in the near future, think again – machines are already ruling our lives, from the smartphones and tablets we use, to the computers we have at home, to implantable technology to save lives, and even making our homes smarter.  And with machines’ improving ability to “talk” to one another, it’s hard not to acknowledge how more aspects our lives are moving into the hands of these machines.

“Rise of the Machines” is a one-hour documentary produced by CNBC, hosted by Fast Money’s Melissa Lee.  It aired last night, following Lee’s first hand experience of how machines are already involved in our daily lives.  Will they ultimately benefit us, or will they pose a greater risk for humanity?

This is a question we ask daily at SiliconANGLE, having extensively covered the Internet of Things and self-quantified movements, chronicling how innovations in different fields are making our lives easier.  Below are just some of the innovations we have covered, as well as links to video clip highlights from Lee’s documentary.

SmartHome

You can turn your home into a connected home by buying Internet-connected appliances or gadgets that help your old appliances talk to others in the same power grid, or to a smartphone app.

There are plenty of gadgets to choose from, such as the digitalSTROM, a Lego-like device that allows interconnectivity of devices in the same power grid, Belkin’s WeMo home automation solution, and a variety of home security solutions that keep your home safe and secure, even if you’re a thousand miles away.

In this clip from Lee’s documentary, Someone is Watching You, see how one man utilized sensors to monitor and control almost every aspect of his home.  His home even has its own Twitter account that updates him on the status of his home.

SmartBody

In the clip Hearts Beating Disease, Dr. Jeffrey Olgin of the University of California aims to track participants using smartphones and supercomputers to help in the early detection of heart diseases.  Health eHeart aims to recruit one million smartphone users, download apps to track their conditions, and they would have to wear a sensor like the AlivCor so vital statistics such as blood pressure and heart rate can be monitored.

This initiative is a large-scale version of the Framingham Heart Study, which was commissioned in 1948.  It recruited and studied 15,000 participants over three generations and required them to visit a doctor every two years to monitor their health.  The study outlined health risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, stress, and physical inactivity as predisposing factors to having a heart attack and advised participants to lifestyle changes to avoid having one.  By 2010, the study determined that a person who experienced a heart attack at the age of 65, his or her offspring is three times likely to also have a heart attack.

SmartCar

The New Designated Driver clip demonstrates the impending age of driverless cars.  Though it has been predicted that by 2016 we’ll see partially autonomous cars out in the market, highly autonomous by 2020, and fully autonomous cars by 2025, Nissan promises fully autonomous cars by 2020.

Though some of you may doubt it, it’s not too far fetched to think that someday, cars will be driving themselves with little to no human input in the hopes of making roads much safer.  There are now vehicles that can park themselves, engage the brake system when sensing danger ahead, with headlights and taillights that adjust brightness automatically depending on road conditions.

SmartCity

In the clip Realm of the Sensors, see how Rio de Janeiro is battling crimes, decongesting traffic, avert catastrophes and even save lives with the use of Big Data, sensors and cameras.

Rio de Janeiro isn’t the only one that’s using technology to improve road and city conditions.  The Vietnamese city of Da Nang has teamed up with IBM to manage its water and transportation infrastructures.  IBM will be using its cutting edge Intelligent Operations Centre technology.  Software and sensors will be embedded into Da Nang’s buses, roads and highways to allow synchronization of traffic lights and minimize traffic congestion.