Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Jim Allman <jim AT ibang.com>]

Regarding Gmail, a little thought experiment:

What if a grocery store offered to install a system in your house that 
would notice your grocery needs, and offer genuine help with a minimum 
of fuss?

"Hey, we're out of nachos--oh, never mind, there are fresh ones on the 
porch. Thanks, MagicHouse(tm)!"

How does it work? By installing a network of microphones in every room, 
so that remote servers (fully automated, of course) can monitor the 
sounds of crunching, chewing, and other digestive... stuff. 
Sophisticated filtering technology blah blah knows nachos from 
crackers; you get the idea.

Obviously, you could build on this system to provide many other 
discreet personal services.

Personally, I don't think I could go for this. My cost/benefit analysis 
really bogs down at the phrase "microphones in every room". But it's 
maybe not so different from things that seem reasonable to me now.


It occurs to me that such a system already exists, though it's waned in 
popularity. It's called a "butler", and it apparently works well for 
many people. I gather the key ingredient is trust, both in the butling 
profession and in your particular butler.

        =jimA=