UFOs (ubiquitous-findable-objects) are coming.

The term ‘ambient findability’ describes a world at the crossroads of ubiquitous computing and the internet, in which we can find anyone or anything from anywhere at any time. It’s not necessarily a goal, and we’ll never achieve perfect findability, but we’re surely headed in the right direction.

A clear sign of progress is the emergence of ubiquitous findable objects (UFOs). GPS, RFID, UWB, and cellular triangulation enable us, for the first time in history, to tag and track products, possessions, pets, and people as they wander through space and time.

Of course, not everyone is happy about this brave new world of UFOs.

While Bruce Sterling raves about spime, Katherine Albrecht rants about spychips.

This debate focuses our attention on the UFO subclass of, ‘ubiquitous findable organisms’ that includes wild animals, pets, friends, suspects, shoppers, patients, prisoners, employees, kids, and ourselves.


Ubiquitous Findable Organisms

The UFO application space invites a richer feature set than we may think. Major tasks include identifying, tracking, observing, communicating, and interacting.

Consequently, the enabling toolset includes networked video cameras, acoustic sensors, satellite constellations, smartphones, radio-guided missiles, and other emerging technologies that afford a different kind of close encounter, and myriad new ways to reach out and touch someone.

Read the whole story:
Findability: Find Anyone Or Anything From Anywhere

Tags: gps, rfid, internet security, tracking, monitoring, internet privacy