Forecasting

"The consequences of our actions are so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed."

- J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Robotics, Robots, Flowers

Technology Review has a new article on internet enabled robotics, and refers to a very interesting robot kit from Charmed Labs. I want one :) Probably the most interesting part is the community robotics and recipes site.

Enhanted objects all round.

Nano Bots - Cool, Cute, Soccer?

How cool is this? Nano-bot soccer!

This is what the field looks like:

And the players:

Just amazing stuff! Very primitive in many ways, but at the same time so cutting edge. I want the video version - when will a nano-soccer match be shown on SBS or posted to youtube?

For more, see: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/calmed/robocup_photos.html and

http://www.technologyreview.com/Wire/19025/page1/

Inspirational stuff

http://www.williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/

The coming age of magic

Here's a really neat presentation from Mike Kuniavsky on how with 486 level computing power becoming dirt cheap, we will see more and more computing and networking functionality embedded in physical objects.

The metaphor of the 'enchanted object' brings to light what Mike sees as the most appropriate targets for this treatment. I love this term and think its far more appropriate and evocative than the term 'augmented objects'.

Highly recommended.

http://www.orangecone.com/tm_etech_magic_0.3.pdf

The Downside of SaaS

Software as a Service is a high profile new way to consume IT.

Consuming software as a utility just as you consume electricity or water is very appealing. The analogy suggests continuous availability and ease of consumption on demand.

The utility analogy also betrays one of the most key limitations to Software as a Service. Electricity supply suffers from blackouts. Water supply suffers from pipe failure. In both cases, you have little control of when and how your service will be resumed.

Software as a Service can also suffer from outages. When it happens you have no alternative but to wait.

On the other hand, economies of scale suggest that Software as a Service vendors can build a more resilient data center and software offering than most individual companies could afford.

What's more important to you?
A high likelihood of stability, or a high level of control?

Prompted by this article about a Salesforce.com outage in their system for partners: http://www.aspnews.com/news/weekly/article.php/3665531