John Soat writing at CIOs Uncensored (a blog) explains the reverse consumer effect occurring with regard to RFID. In short he says that while the plan was for RFID to be a boon for business, in fact it's not doing so well there (even Walmart admits its play is not living up to expectation). Instead, concumer use it taking off - like with AT&T's new tracking offering.

I think there's another reversal going on that's important. Instead of businesses deciding where tags go (which freaks people out), systems like AT&T's allow the consumer to decide where they go.

Talk of the Nation (from National Public Radio) hosted an interview with Vincent Virga about his book Cartographia earlier this week. He speaks lovingly of maps and reminded me why they tell us so much about ourselves.

A Utah company, S5 Wireless [link corrected per comment - the AP had it wrong, which is of course not an excuse...] is introducing a chip that might power what David Carter, S5's chief executive, calls "a poor man's LoJack or OnStar." The inexpensive chip, along with a base station can track a dog or backpack that carries the perhaps $3-$4 chip which includes a battery that may last up to two years.

The base stations? The company plans to start building its network next year in major cities and have 35 cities within three years. The base stations in some cases will piggyback on cell towers. The chips are active, sending out signals to the stations and uses TDOA (if I understand the article) to determine position.

The biz plan?

To gain a foothold, S5 will give away the designs for its chips, letting anyone make their own or incorporate the functions into existing chips, like those in cell phones. It plans to make money by charging for the location service, though at low rates, around $1 a month.

- AP

I don't ski, so those of you who do can perhaps evaluate the value of the new O’Neill NavJacket. It's a ski jacket with built-in GPS. Audio in the hood provides navigation instructions to lead you down the hill while a screen on the sleeve shows maps. If you hook it up to a cell phone you can get 3D visuals and other resort information. Word is that like most satnav devices you tell it where you want to go (it's not clear how this is done - key in, select from list, input from computer?)

Perhaps they are confused, but the report I read says that in addition to speed and location, the device can provide (apparently on its own) local weather information. I'd think that'd require cell or Interent access, no?

The jacket will be tested this year in the Alps and perhaps be on sale next season.

- pocket-link.co.uk