The Physical World Web 2.0

The Physical World Web 2.0

The Pondering Primate was created to focus on all forms of disruptive technologies.
A very disruptive technology and industry is being created when a physical world hyperlink (PWH) is used to link to the Internet.

A 1d code (barcode) and 2d code will provide a completely separate and powerful function when used with a camera phone/mobile phone to connect to the Net.

This is Phase 2 of the Internet. When objects in the physical world, with a PWH CAN BE linked to the Internet. This is static information though.

While we wait for the cameras on the phones to get advanced enough to read a barcode, and for mobile marketing companies to use innovation for 2d codes, another PWH is coming on strong with infinite possibilities over the barcode.

This PWH offers more and a much bigger opportunity than the barcode.

It is being called a barcode on steroids, otherwise referred to as the electronic barcode, or “e-barcode”.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a huge technological advance that will change every industry, last for many years, and represents an enormous ground floor investment opportunity, if you know how to invest in it.

Visionary Innovations sees this enormous opportunity and is tracking companies in this space.

What happens when physical objects ARE linked continuously to the Net?

This is another, and in my opinion, the most lucrative form of physical world connection

What if Smart Mobs don’t involve people, but they are comprised of all types of RFID tags and physical objects that are connected to the Net? This is dynamic information.

I would like to call this Physical World Web 2.0

The Internet is a useful tool when individual users/PCs can access information. But the Net becomes a really powerful tool when users/PCs form collaborative networks. This is the power of many.

The speed and amount of information these Internet “communities” (WikiPedia, MySpace, Flickr etc) generate is opening up some exciting business opportunities. Now apply the same collaborative concept when all forms of RFID tags, work together to form a different kind of community.

This is called "The Internet Of Things".

In my opinion, the real opportunity with RFID will not be in the tags and readers, but with the solutions/information that those RFID tags (all forms) will provide.

The high margin, recurring revenue, investment opportunities will be the perpetual monitoring (dynamic) solutions for all forms of RFID tags.

I have highlighted the endless applications that will be offered when a barcode and camera phone can be linked to the Net. The big opportunity comes from the various forms of RFID tags, and the endless dynamic information possibilities they will provide.

Where a barcode will be linked to a specific website, an RFID tag will deliver various types of real time information. It’s called the barcode on steroids for a reason.

When most think of RFID (as the media relates), they are seeing a 915 MHz tag that provides identification of a consumer good (static information) and will act like “Big Brother” by tracking every move the consumer makes (dynamic information).

With every new technology, there are people that don’t take the time to do their research, and end up making dramatic statements that misinform.

First, there are many forms of RFID tags that can be read/monitored in various ways and distances. Each one of these tags has its pros and cons.

I will explain the various RFID tags and their pros and cons in a follow-up post

Second, the “Big Brother” stigma is an example of dynamic information, and has big corporations practically drooling over the possibilities, but not in the way the media has portrayed.

Here are a couple examples.

The manufacturer doesn’t care if Sally Smith bought Tylenol at Walmart, they care if the pallet that package of Tylenol was in, was opened in a shipping port in Los Angeles and then repackaged.

Soon there will be a way to authenticate every package of Excedrin.

McArthur Dairy doesn’t care if you bought a gallon of milk at Publix on 6/10/2006, what they really want to know is if that gallon of milk was in a 75 degree room for 2 hours before it was sold.

Which is the greater loss to a retailer?

Destroying a pallet of Tylenol, or finding out they sold hundreds of Tylenol that have been contaminated?
Throwing out a pallet of spoiled milk or finding out they sold a pallet of spoiled milk?

These are consumer good examples.

“Big Brother” will save corporations billions of dollars from RFID. The ability to track a good is the smallest value added, it’s the other forms of information they will receive that will be invaluable. The real opportunity lies in finding "Big Brother" solutions FOR CORPORATE USE.

The real value of RFID is not from scanning the tag (static), but what real time information (all forms of) RFID are able to convey (dynamic).

Let me explain the difference between static and dynamic information using a daily example.
A highway sign that says Exit 15 Old Way Thinking Blvd Exit Right is a form of static information, it stays constant.

An LED sign flashing saying “ Exit 15 delay due to accident, Use Exit 14” is a form of dynamic information.

A N.Y Times newspaper is static info, the N.Y. Times website is dynamic info. Which one is seeing increased subscriber growth and offers more opportunities?

A barcode provides static information about an item. All forms of RFID working together to form mesh networks will provide endless forms of dynamic information.

The Physical World Web 2.0, an exciting opportunity.

Coming up Part 2, What Will Corporations Do With Physical World Web 2.0?