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

[Ian Meyer <ianmeyer AT mac.com>]

I think the GMail ads are more along the lines of the Catalina Coupons 
that we already give out at grocery stores (I work at a Harris Teeter) 
that are tailored to your shopping habits.

I realize that grocery shopping and email are a little different 
(really, a lot), but the concept is still the same.

Also, Google already drops me a cookie and keeps track of my searches 
and presents ads based on what I search for or the page I'm looking at, 
so I really don't see the problem with that. If Yahoo, for example, was 
an AdWords customer, and decided to out the AdWords ads on their 
webmail mail view page, it wouldn't be that big if a deal.

Anyway, I'm not too worried about the provacy, and I think I'm 
definitley going to sign up for a GMail account as soon as they are 
available.

~Ian


On Apr 5, 2004, at 9:27 AM, Jim Allman wrote:

> 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=
>
> ---
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