One of the big coming waves in information technology is likely to be in what's called augmented reality. It has been on my radar for years and it's only now getting tangible traction. What is it? It's basically an information layer for real life that's part of a larger trend that I call "Reality +". The way it works is pretty simple. Chips (like RFID chips or simple anchoring tags) installed into/onto objects, from static objects like buildings to mobile objects like car/bikes/dogs, or data derived from the Internet based on GPS coordinates (and potentially pattern matching/optical character recognition) is used to provide information to mobile users via wireless connections.
Browsers, like the Layar browser* that runs on Android phones, allows you to navigate that information in a similar way in which you navigate web pages. Essentially, an unlimited number of information "layers" can be added to any object or space. Many of the these layers will be private. In less than 5 years or so, Reality + will likely be as well known as the Web was 2000.
Tribal Layers
As this rolls out, there is going to be a window of opportunity, for those with the inclination to create tribal layers that display information and augment the views of group members. This can be used to accelerate:
- Group cohesion. It allows reinterpretation of surroundings through the group lens. Bruce Sterling calls this a potential "Nazi Layer" if it is abused.
- Training and education. Faster loops of learning through higher levels of group knowledge retention.
- Warfare. Target ID and avenues of attack/egress. Recon notes. With biometrics enemy/friend recognition. Etc. Storage of this data on decentralized bot nets would make it secure.
* Despite its innovation, Layar appears to be making a Microsoft style platform play at this space. Free to use, but closed ownership/IP. This form of early damage inflicted by early innovators might slow the growth of the space. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
NOTE: Another way to access Reality + is through remote video feeds on a standard personal computer. Lot's of people miss this avenue of approach.