File Under: "Hmmmm"

Some things that have made me go "hmmm" in the past few days:

iSpots project at MIT: "aims at describing changes in living and working at MIT by mapping the dynamics of the wireless network in real-time. Thus, the complex and dispersed individual movement patterns that make up the daily life of the campus can be revealed, helping to answer many questions:Which physical spaces are preferred for work in the MIT community? How could future physical planning of the campus suit the community's changing needs? Which location-based services would be most helpful for students and academics?"

A post called "Designing Information" by blogger David Galipeau: " is it possible to 'design' information that changes our social dimension? Structured content, micro-formats, ambient findability and new models of information delivery let me do what I want, when I want, how I want. They let me manage how I fulfill my desires; how I accomplish my goals."

A report called The Internet of Things from the International Telecommunication Union (this is not new as it was published Nov 2005. New to me). The whole report costs money, but the 28 page summary is free as a pdf: "the report takes a look at the next step in 'always on' communications, in which new technologies like RFID and smart computing promise a world of networked and interconnected devices that provide relevant content and information whatever the location of the user. Everything from tires to toothbrushes will be in communications range, heralding the dawn of a new era, one in which today’s Internet (of data and people) gives way to tomorrow’s Internet of Things."

An essay on Web 2.0 co-authored by O'Reilly author Robbie Allen (also not new, published December 2005): "This paper will seek to define, clarify, and illustrate the definition of Web 2.0 on three levels. First, we will look at several of the key technologies used in Web 2.0 applications. Next we will examine the different business models that are currently or will be employed by those using the technology. We will then look at several case studies in some depth. We will close by offering some conclusions and by looking at the future of Web 2.0."

The latest trend briefing from trendwatching.com, called "Infolust": "So forget information overload: this desire for relevant information is insatiable and will soon move from the online world to the 'real' world to achieve true ubiquity [...] Now that...millions of consumers have had a taste of the new, transparent world of information distribution, expectations about access to information have been raised. In fact, traditional power centers are exposed for what they really are: entities that survived because of an unequal distribution of information, not because of their brilliance or skill or because they did something unique with this possession."