Virtual Solar Power Plants
Solar energy systems allow for distributed energy development. But its become too localized with . By providing a platform (or a virtual power plant) where users can track appropriate metrics we can begin to analyze the impact solar energy is having on varying levels of the government and the economy.
SolTrex is trying to do it, but isn’t getting deep enough. They should be trying to tie into the network of manufacturers and installers to get new system metrics online as soon as they are online.
And the blue sky portion of the idea: Keystone the solar energy ecosystem by partnering with a residential focused Mondial alternative (they pay for installation). Plenty of people want to get into solar energy but lack the time, funds or don’t want to risk their energy supply. Make it risk free and plaster the resulting numbers everywhere.
This isn’t assuming solar energy is the most viable alternative energy. Just one of several options with potential.
On Smart Sneakers
Schneier inspired:
Basically, the kit contains a transmitter that you stick in your sneakers and a receiver you attach to your iPod. This allows you to track things like time, distance, pace, and calories burned. Pretty clever.
However, it turns out that the transmitter in your sneaker can be read up to 60 feet away. And because it broadcasts a unique ID, you can be tracked by it. In the demonstration, the researchers built a surveillance device (at a cost of about $250) and interfaced their surveillance system with Google Maps. Details are in the paper. Very scary.
Nike should embrace this ability and sell a product to tier two teams (read college athletes/ROTC’s) that geographically tracks team members, keeps tracks of time/distance data for the entire team and routes all of this data to individual health records. It could even apply some thinking and project future performance and track actual performance along that curve. Build a package of products based on this idea.
The first step, of course, is to secure it. But the opportunity to diffuse an advantage usually reserved for tier one athletes is one that shouldn’t be missed.
Schwartzman On Spam
Neil Schwartzman has a fantastic piece up describing the state of the “spam war”. He gets it, the marriage of spammers and virus makers, the traditional black market, the potential for massive disruption. It’s all there.
Update: Robb ties the article in with GG theory.
Updates
Sporadic posting due to a rapid fire vacation. Hitting 4 major cities (Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis) and a 2 day ski trip (Wisconsin) all in 13 days.
It’s 38 in Chicago tonight, it was 78 in Austin yesterday. I actually kind of like the change. The good news is I’m spending a lot of time on the road with a laptop in hand, so I should have quality posts up when this is over.
DoD Budget Sliding To A Halt?
Wiggins thinks so:
There will be much nashing of teeth, but the overall defense budget’s growth is stopping. Also, the “emergency” supplimentals for OEF and OIF will have to come to an end soon. These trade-offs are going to become clearer and clearer as the choice becomes funding either the current warrior or the future warrior.
Remember the doom loop – after big bang efforts, we swing back and forth before realizing we have no momentum left.