One Ring to Rule Them All

We admit that the newer iPods have a pretty slick user interface. It's fairly easy to position the device in a pocket in order to use the scroll wheel to turn up the volume, or as is our custom with several talk shows to skip past the commercials.

The remote, however, is of dubious value. Sure you can skip songs, etc. but it just doesn't have the same ease of use as the wheel. Other remotes, or for that matter interfaces, still use the same old push button rewind/play/fast forward buttons that we've come to love(?) for years.

Recently we were fumbling for the scroll wheel hidden away in a pocket and thought 'why isn't there a device that extends the scroll paradigm but isn't yetanotherdarnthing to carry around.' Why isn't there a bluetooth or infrared module that plugs into the remote port of your favorite player and can be controlled with a simple device?

Fab miniaturization has progressed to a point where it's technically feasible to make very small devices. So why aren't we seeing very small remotes? Yes there are issues with making a universal module that understands all devices. But with enough interest in a clever remote design we bet that a 'rosetta stone' controller would be a work in earnest.

How about a ring that functions as a remote control? A simple band could very easily duplicate all the functions now found on the iPod scroll wheel. Touch sensitive or a band within a band - one ring to control any device attached to the universal controller.

We're betting that clever designers will be able to hide or integrate such circuitry very soon. Let's hope that battery designers are equally clever.

Cell Phones and Restaurant-Safe Mode

For a while now we've been considering the fate of manners, especially as they relate to cell phones. Many times the two seem to be at odds as countless tales are told of a dinner, movie, conversation, (insert your bad experience here) that have been interrupted by someone with little regard for others around them. We're sure they don't mean to be rude it's just that something in the cell phone temporarily blocks the manner synapse from firing.

Much has been discussed around here on ways to force (arbitrary) good behavior. In a restaurant, for example, a base station could be installed that would block cell phone calls. However, what happens when the call being blocked is an emergency call? Would rudeness then be replaced with litigiousness?

What's needed is a decision system that allows calls based on some criteria. The caller could be informed that calls have been temporarily blocked but for $1/$5/$10 the call may be placed. The carrier and the restaurant would share the revenue.

The amount of work to provide such capabilities seemed to be prohibitive but at least a couple of handset manufacturers (Nokia, Sony Ericsson) provide phones with a 'flight safe' mode which turns off cell phones in proximity to a base station.

Should be simple to figure out a way to block or allow calls based on your criteria.

The folks around the cell phone user will thank you.

RFID and Household Inventory

Just around tax time each year we start thinking about all things money. Taking inventory of all belongings for net worth purposes also has the side benefit of making sure insurance policies are adequate to cover replacement should, God forbid, something happen to decimate a house.

While Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has been around for a little while it took a Wal-Mart mandate to its suppliers to get the volume necessary to bring per cost down. Each tag uses an Electronic Product Code (EPC) to identify the product which can then be scanned to track, locate, etc.

Wouldn't it be interesting to purchase individual tags for products that you own and stick them on household items? Then with a few waves of a scanner your household inventory database is built. Using a service to retrieve average cost by product id your replacement value is easily calculated along with a listing of all items owned. You'd be most grateful for that if you ever had to produce a list of belongings.

If your company has a place to order individual RFID tags by product and has a pricing retrieval service - we would like to know. Quickly. Inventory day is fast approaching and we can't find our old list.

Bring The Beat Back

..."I like that for the people up top".

Ever notice how annoying moving banner ads are? Of course you have. We were recently listening to some music while just staring off into ad-space and thought "wouldn't it be cool if the ads moved in time with the music?" The pig with the undulating belly might be a little more tolerable if it followed the beat.

We were disappointed when Microsoft released dancers that didn't follow the music. While advertisers have offered us the opportunity to ignore things happening on the screen while focused attention is elsewhere, Microsoft missed the boat by not adding value to a similar activity; albeit on the desktop instead of the webpage.

Now we might be less inclined to avert our attention from banner ads if they provided something interesting. An ad that moved with the rhythm of the experience might pique just enough interest to have us look at it for a while. How curious would we be if the ad moved based on style of the music as well? Change the movement to ahead of the beat to elicit a certain response, behind the beat for another feel.

Once we figured out that banner ads were only trying to trick us into looking and not adding value, we quickly became impervious to them. They're like the bad kid in school - looking for attention no matter how. But as soon as there is some imputed value then the faults are overlooked.

Add some value to banner ads and maybe we'll overlook their faults.

Coming Soon - VidCasting

So, by now it's a forgone conclusion that Podcasting will change the rules of audio distribution. Companies like Blinkx will help propel mass adoption by providing a searchable interface into the audio world. This will be the next big search market!

Now a tip of the hat to all the A/V geeks in the world - as soon as audio takes off, video will be fast behind. Already Yahoo Video Search is making it possible to search for video.

But the big difference between the two, at least for the moment, is that Podcasting has such a low barrier to entry that anybody can produce one, and indeed many do.

So in the meantime, how about using video clips for your own purpose and in your own way? A company like TVTonic makes it possible to grab video content and use it with your Media PC. Imagine impressing your guests with the latest movie trailers on movie night instead of showing what the studios want you to see. All on the big screen.

New models in content consumption will come as folks figure out that distribution is no longer an issue - neither for Audio nor Video.

Utility Fog and OOP

No doubt there will come a time when manufacturing happens at a molecular level. Utility Fog holds an interesting promise of creating objects out of seemingly thin air. Imagine snapping your fingers and a chair appears. Or a car. Some pretty wild concepts.

The big problem is getting processors that small. But what if self selecting nanoprograms were able to arrange themselves into a form of a complete program. The way we think of complex instruction set computing, or even reduced instruction set computing should undergo the same transformative thinking. If we're talking about nanotech modules do we really need each to be fully capable of executing all instructions? (Yes we know this is still theoretical.)

Having a polymorphic nanoprogram that knew, for instance how to move, it may be more inclined to bind with a set of foglets that arranged themselves into a movable object, but less so for a chair object.

The challenge for computer scientists is how to represent foglets as attractors to self form themselves into a representation of an object.

Any takers?

Consumer Products Price Charts

What is the best time of year to buy golf clubs?

We were wondering that recently. The basic laws of supply and demand would indicate that the market 'clears' at this moment. We would assume that there is some demand from the snowbird destinations but not a pent-up demand elsewhere.

But when are the inflection points? Should we buy in the first week of April when club makers are gearing up production? How about the last week of October when the weather is changing and production is slowing down? Someplace in-between?

There is some amount of supply and demand cycle for every product on the market. Even though it represents market forces for a particular point in time, we wonder if there are patterns that get established for buying consumer goods across the spectrum. We know it's true for decorations (and sweaters) after Christmas!

Now, we can search for any item to buy and be presented with a list of competitive prices from any number of merchants. Those are the prices you'd pay today. But what were those prices a few weeks ago? A few months ago?

We've come to expect stock charts to have this information for years back.

What if you were to compile your database to provide this type of information for consumer products?

Would shoppers come if you build it?

Electronic Ink and the REAL Movable Type

We think the time may finally be within reach for extending ourselves into our carselves.

Although electronic paper has been with us for years in science fiction, it seems that it may finally be a reality. E Ink and Plastic Logic have announced an "agreement to co-operate on the design and fabrication of flexible all-plastic electronic displays."

Originally we envision these displays replacing bumper stickers as a way of championing a favorite cause - like "I'd rather be fishing." Or for displaying personal information - like proud parent pictures. Maybe even advertising!

But if this were mounted with an input device available we could see real-time messages to other drivers. Thinks like "please move aside" would start popping up to [sarcasm] inform [/sarcasm] other drivers of what we're thinking.

Come to think of it maybe this would redefine war-driving. Pandora says progress this idea at your own peril.

Sound and Cents

Keep an eye open for ATC. If they figure out how to get their HyperSonic Sound system packaged for the commercial and consumer markets there could be an explosion of new businesses around directed sound.

We were at ESPN Zone in New York recently and the cacophony of sounds from all the football games was maddening. Each booth had to turn their little table speaker system up louder than their neighbor just to hear. Imagine the noise by the 4th quarter! Now imagine the same place with directional speakers like ATC's. Bliss.

Auxiliary products that would turn small speakers with a remote would be snapped up in a hurry when installed at home. How many of these would be purchased by spouses for late night viewing?

Come up with a complete package and your business would scream. But only you could hear it!

What is Epic?

You'll have to watch this video for yourself to dream up how you can be a part of this, or keep it from happening. Interesting questions at the end, but some pretty cool ideas all along the way.

So, what is EPIC?

1) a song by Faith No More
It’s magic, it’s tragic, it’s a loss, it’s a win
It’s dark, it’s moist, it’s a bitter pain
It’s sad it happened and it’s a shame
You want it all but you can’t have it
It’s in your face but you can’t grab it
What is it?
It’s it
What is it? ...

2) Electronic Privacy Information Center
EPIC protects privacy, freedom of expression, democratic values, and promotes the Public Voice in decisions concerning the future of the Internet.

3) Evolving Personalized Information Construct
At its best it's a summary of the world; deeper, broader, more nuanced than anything ever available than ever before. At it's worst it's merely a collection of trivia; narrow, shallow, and sensational.

4) All of the above?

Making Money

We finally got a chance to listen to the mp3 presentation of Doc Searls "Making Money" session from BloggerCon iii. IT Conversations does a great job of putting out audio presentations to listen to whenever the spirit moves you. Our favorite feed of podcasts!

The whole thing is a good listen, but pick it up around 1:17:15 into the session to hear a roomful of people interested in throwing out new business ideas - as wild as they may be. Kind of what we're about...

AdSense and Identity Theft

We were a little appalled that Google would ask for name, address, social security number, and date of birth as the price of entry for their AdSense program. In today's age of rampant identity theft this seems to be irresponsible at best.

Employers have a long established practice of requesting that information - mainly because as the chief source of income for many people, companies are bound to report the taxes withheld from their employees paychecks. There is a certain amount of trust in that relationship. One will trust a company to honor its obligation of fair dealings for honest effort. Fair wages for an honest days work. Or something like that. And there's an expectation of protecting that relationship since both (assumedly) profit from it.

So when an employer asks for tax identification there is an understanding of the rationale.

However, is that same level of trust present when a web entity proposes to do the same thing? Because money is being exchanged for service - you make money by providing a service for Google - there is an assumed fiduciary contract with Google as employer. Can you pop into Google's office to discuss your privacy concerns with them? Are you sure they are treating your confidential information, along with the other millions that join the AdSense program, as would be appropriate in a corporate environment?

As an alternative, we propose a tax credit card or similar solution. Instead of asking for sensitive information like SSN without indemnifying its use, provide a way for money, information, etc. to be transferred but with limited liability. Credit card companies are a decent model for this since once you report a card under suspicion the account can be closed and further damage is contained.

Changing one's social security number and credit history are not so easy.

roll your own ip

Yeah, we promised to present ideas that are thought out - either wholly or partially (or not at all), but here's a chance for you to roll your own.

MIT is offering OpenCourseWare to "Provide free, searchable, access to MIT's course materials for educators, students, and self-learners around the world."

Sounds like a great chance to see what MIT is about for free. While finding actual material to read on the site is hit or miss, the course outlines are available and worthwhile for anyone who has a desire to get the books on their own.

Now if they could just offer the same college bookstore experience...

podcasting and the Apple cart

New business models will be popping up soon to take advantage of the wild frontier that is podcasting.

Art Mobs wants users to share their experience with Art - using iPods (mp3 players) "you could listen to a guided tour made by an artist, a professor..."

Imagine a whole new class of knowledge being unleashed at the point of interest.

Low barrier to entry, from cost to distribution, makes this possible. The harder issue is user planning. We never think of downloading a podcast based on where we're going. But since we always have an iPod or two with us getting content at the point of consumption makes sense.

Providing an infrastructure to make this happen, either kiosks with sync solutions, or a wireless sync device grabbing local wireless (podcasting meets broadcasting) will surely upset the current pricey audio tour cart with a cheaper (apple) cart.

On This Day

Brilliant examples of setting your ip free. We've added a script authored by the good folks at newlinks that shows the Wikipedia entries for events in history on this date.

We can remember when Compton's or Funk and Wagnall’s encyclopedias where the only way to get research made available to the masses. Volumes of these things took over whole rooms and were proudly displayed, as if they imparted their knowledge on those fortunate enough to afford them.

That knowledge has been made available, for free, surely upending Compton's business model. And now it's even easier to find from links on blog posts. Thanks mmChronic - whoever you are.

Modem Hijacking

Read an article the other day about user agreement popups having code in them that allows for modem hijacking. Computer then calls internationally at random times when the computer is not used. Companies at the receiving end collect the revenue from the phone companies and split with the company hijacking the modem.

Aside from the moral bankruptcy of this, we were thinking that this should be illegal. Indeed the FCC and FTC are looking into it and will probably shut it down. But it raises an issue - how bound to the terms of a user agreement are we? Courts are ruling that these agreements are enforceable, even in all their stripping of user rights.

But who really reads all through these agreements? We assume them to be boilerplate legalese, understandable only by lawyers and the like. So what happens when this trust is misused and rights are given up? What kind of recourse is available - hire more lawyers?

Todays idea is to harness knowledge systems and provide an intelligent agent that reads through these user agreements and provides a brief synopsis in plain english to say what's being given up. A browser plugin could identify the popup as a user agreement, run it through a rule engine and present a new popup window with the interpreted results.

We'd be first in line to test the beta. Would be a good alternative to saying No to everything!

Welcome

How many times have you said "this is a great idea, but I just don't have time to do it"? If you're like us the answer is probably LOTS. So instead of letting those ideas just go to waste, why not set them free for everyone to take?

We're thrilled by the Why Not site. It's just that we're a little more lazy. The ideas that come here are things that come to mind and may have already been done. So maybe we should name the site "Dude, that's already been done". Still, serves our purpose since we can then track it down.

It's so hard to wade through all the stuff that comes through search engines while looking for something in particular. Try doing research on hard drives for a car. You'll find lots of articles on hard drives, on cars, and maybe even a couple of futurist articles on hard drives in cars. But how about companies doing it today? Or something we can go out and buy today?

So, if an idea comes across our desk and you know something about it - Please post about it. If not and you see the basis for a company - feel free.

All of our ideas are Free For The Taking.