Lessig’s rant about the lack of wireless at WSIS includes a mention that in spite of the lack of decent Internet access, they somehow had the resources to give everyone an RFID-enabled badge and monitor them through the conference.
This is such as stupid misuse of technology. Did these people think they were being cool? Why take one of the most obviously unattractive uses of a technology and force it on everyone?
Very funny report by Jeffrey Zeldman on the total lack of semantic-ness in a the website for a semantic web conference. Thanks to Dave W. Link
Interesting read in the RIAA v. Verizon case that was just decided on in favor of Verizon. I thought the judges were pretty direct in their decision against RIAA, but in the end were stated to be “sympathetic” to their cause. Thanks to Lessig for the link. Link
Awesome medical gear catalog reviewed by Kevin Kelly. Link
Cool fueld cell toy. Link
David Weinberger chastises Peter Coffee et al for being too high-and-mighty about PowerPoint. Link
Nice post by Kevin Werbach summarizing some of the different approaches to VOIP. His main point is the big one: voice is an application, and in the right environment it isn’t differentiated from other applications. Link
Follow-up post by Jeremy Allaire takes similar tack, but elaborates on why some of the distinctions are artificial.
Articles by Nova Spivack to follow up on. The ideas of microcontent, in particular, are relevent to the emergence of RFID as a new infrastructure.
Defining Microcontent
From the Metaweb to the Semantic Web: A Roadmap
From Microcontent to Macrocontent
The Importance of Pull versus Push: Why the Metaweb is better
Kevin Werbach is noodling over the inherent value in LinkedIn and I’ve been grappling with the same thing. Every time I think I have a good use for it it doesn’t quite get there. On the other hand I keep feeling like it will, so have a mental background process watching my daily activities for uses.
I have to admit that there’s a little of the “I wouldn’t join a club that would have me” kind of a feeling - if I’m just joy riding around in here, what makes me think these others aren’t doing the same?
Classic science experiments still worth doing at KK’s Cool Tools. Link