Supermarket II

I was surfing "second life" for some days trying to figure out what is the business behind the wall. Nothing comes out so far, but I was really thinking about the supermarket of the future we post it some weeks ago. I was thinking that supermarkets can create a 3D Supermarket where customers can navigate through a 3d supermarket, they can choose products, interact with real employees which can give information about products, size, choices, etc. also meet real people who are also shopping. Then clear shopping card an that's it. This can create a unique experience to customers and put technology and electronic commerce one step forward.

Track List

I was wondering why a CD players are not able to bring us track list information from a CD. Its seems like we look for the more difficult path to find something. When you use Internet you are able to see track list for companies that bring track list database, I figure out that the CD have a sort of code which it uses as primary key to find the information. I propose a very easy thing, put the information of the track list in a text file in the CD, common standard. Music player and Cd Player can be able to read the information and show us in the device. Would this be possible?

Baggage Claim

I think than one of the things that are stuck in time are airports. This industry does not seem that innovation and uses of technology have done something to help them. Baggage claim is one of the most messy activities within a trip. When you wait for you luggage to arrive, the baggage carousel can be one of the most annoying times you can ever have. People push you just to see if the luggage arrive, you need to have ten eyes to identify your luggage. Uncertainty kills you, its even worst if you have a flight connection or you are late for an appointment. Airlines and airports authorities should do something smart to help and make life easier to travelers. One idea is identify every luggage with an electronic strap with the use of RFID technology instead of current code bars. user can track their luggage through the web, PDA or Blackberry. Even a system that send SMS can be useful specially when you don't have such kind of devices. When the luggage enters the baggage carousel a system will identify the identity of the owner and can show the name in an electronic frame so travelers can be safe waiting for their luggage in a next to cafe having a beer or a cup of coffee. Too much to be real.

Education Technology

Technology has been helping education for a while. Since internet became popular, students and educators use it as a a good source of information. But now many schools and universities are launching virtual education in which students has a complete access to a virtual area to follow the subject. I think that the future will bring amazing opportunities for this, but my question is, will this kind of education good for the human society?. I’ve been working for a virtual university for a while I’m a tutor of a couple of courses and my impression is that even virtual education have a lot of potentiality still people need to communicate and shares ideas person to person. But that wont be a problem if we are training people, cause in this activity students acquire skills, knowledge and why not experience. So it will depends on the benefits/Cost balance. The problem would be if we move virtual education to more base education as elementary school. In this stage students beside training are receiving education which is a much more complex activity where students develop mental and moral values. if we want to develop a better society (and better persons of course) we would keep education the way it works now and let the training for information technology.