2005 Price Estimates Price for RFID Use

This is from a US Department of Commerce Report on Radio Frequency Identification (April 2005).

 

"Current tag costs range from 25 to 40 cents per tag (higher in some cases, depending upon the type of tag), making it relatively expensive for low-end consumer items. The Auto-ID Labs (former Auto-ID Center) expects tag prices to drop to 10 cents in 2005 and 5 cents in 2006 for orders of 1 million units.7 In 2004, Gillette placed an order for 500 million tags and was able to obtain a bulk rate of 10 cents per tag. RFID reader costs are also relatively high due to limited uptake of RFID systems. The Auto-ID Labs also expects reader costs to come down from about $250 in 2003 to about $100 in 2005 and to $70 in 2006. Finally, middleware  costs include computer hardware, software, data processing, data mining, personnel salaries, and personnel training. Information technology consulting firm AMR Research estimates that a consumer products company shipping 50 million cases a year could spend upwards of $20 million for RFID implementation."

Mercury Technology Labs is looking for more up-to-date information on this front and the interaction with the world of sensors.  We could imagine in 2010 that RFID tags will become the smarter and sense telemetry of thinks that are attached too.  Utilizing the same communications infrastructure as modern day RFID, they could relay more information to supply chains.

80% of cameraphone owners also carry their digital camera by ZDNet's ZDNet Research -- 80% of the people that have a camera phone say they regularly carry their digital camera, 75% of SmartPhone users also carry a PDA, and more than 50% of users of multimedia phones also carry their MP3 player, In-Stats says.

We have to wonder when convergence will occur to the satisfaction of the consumer.

Mathews Speaks on Media Content Delivery

Eric Mathews of Mercury Technology Labs recently commented on meeting customer needs for media content delivery. The article in the Memphis Business Journal on September 22, 2006 "Comcast on its way to smooth landing in Memphis, officials hope for easy transition" by Michael Sheffield, stated:

Eric Mathews, former director of the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis and founder of Mercury Technology Labs, says "the growth of On Demand shows that cable providers are listening to the demands of consumers.
 

"What is very clear is that consumers have spoken. It's an On Demand world and who provides the content is a point of competition now," Mathews says. "Who will win in the future remains to be seen."
 

For more on the article visit: http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2006/09/25/focus6.html

Memphis Business Journal Article on Mercury Technology Labs Launch

Mercury Technology Labs recently had this article published
documenting its launch. Check it our in print or on the web if you
have the opportunity.

"FedEx Institute veterans launch venture to bring intellectual
property to market"
by Michael Sheffield
Memphis Business Journal
October 13, 2006
http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2006/10/16/story13.html

Performance Support and VR

This is a cool concept but I wonder how labor intensive it is to make
these 3D sim environments. In the military sector to make 30 mins of
training would cost $50,000. This is even more complex.
http://www.ngrain.com/

Internal VCs and Innovation

Last week I came across this relevant article Corp Internal VC activities and how they are shifting thier efforts. It talks about IBM, Intel, Sun etc . . . It is short and worth the read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/22/business/22venture.html?ex=1316577600&en=f8171fa2a5060e1d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Innovation Champions

We ran across a cool article today pointing out the failings of big
business to innovate properly. We agree. This article focuses in on
the champion being a key drvier in the innovation process. In fact
the article sites that SRI has a policy of 'no champion, no project,
no kidding.'

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193400710

The article does not address opening innovation up to external
sources. We view that as a key in our work with Fortune 500 clients.
Read more on that at http://www.mercurytechlabs.com/consulting.html.

Web 2.0 Characteristics

Here are some of the main characteristics of Web 2.0 platforms that we
are seeing emerge on the web.

-- 100% accessiblity: Architecture supports user access to personal
content, anytime, any system, and anywhere.
-- Platform independence: runs on Macs, PC, cellular phones, Smartphones
-- Asynchronous use and real-tme update: the applications should allow
users to work connected or unnconnected with synchronization
-- Integration of discrete tools: Developers combing applications in
new ways to provide unique functionality

Two Open Source Software Business Models

In our view there are two primary business models that have seen success in the open source software world: 1) Free Trial, Pay for Full Version and 2) Giveaway Product, Charge for Service and Support. We briefly touch on them here and welcome comment.

1) Free Trial, Pay for Full Version
The open source version is given away as a "trial" product. This version would have limited functionality. Most satisfied customers will then upgrade to a full version of the software that is not available 100% as an open source product. They charge customers for the full functionality product.

2) Giveaway Product, Charge for Service and Support.
Some companies will give away the full version of the software as an open sourced solution. The customers are latered charge for service and support of this free software. Valuing these companies occurs on a combination of their unit marketshare and their revenue for service and support.

If you know of any other successful business models to tout, then please let us know. We are looking for the most innovative models as we start our new businesses.

Recommanded news By Mercury Technology Labs: James Clar lighting shop opens for business October 2nd

James Clar lighting shop opens for business October 2nd
Posted By Chris Davies On 30th September 2006 @ 15:50 In furniture, LED, luxury, art, archive, designer

Back in 2005 quite a few people got excited by a three-dimensional LED display unit created by art & visuals experts James Clar & Associates. Consisting of a lattice of 1000 white LEDs which could be individually controlled via an attached computer, it was held up as an eye-catching and intriguing promotional tool as well as a new spatial medium for interaction. The demo video of Pong being played in 3D is well worth seeing, and certainly makes you want a Cube of your own. At the time all they would say was that a commercial version ...

Article taken from SlashGear - http://www.slashgear.com
URL to article: http://www.slashgear.com/james-clar-lighting-shop-opens-for-business-october-2nd-301890.php

James Clar's Store is Up: 3D Display Cube is For Sale

We are happy to announce the official launch of James Clar + Associates Online Store, making available to you a selection of our most recognized designs as well as future productions! And, for our initial product release we present to you the award-winning 3D Display Cube ! Previously available only through galleries, each 3D Display Cube contains 1000 LEDs soldered in a patented wiring matrix configuration that allows users to display spatial typography and 3D animations. No computer is nessecary to run the 3D Cube and multiple Cubes can be linked together to create a larger 3D Display. Whether used for retail or public display, signage applications, home display, or advertising, the 3D Cube captivates viewers with it's original use of LED technology. Available now from James Clar + Associates. www.JamesClar.com www.JamesClar.com/store/

"problem-to-solution social computing"

IBM has had to change culture in order to be competitive.  Social computing was one mechanism by which they supported change.  Check out http://www.research.ibm.com/SocialComputing/WorldJam.htm  under the Social Computing Research Group at IBM.  In particular, the literally global view of the forum is quite an intriguing component of their forum.  I also think that the temporal limits used by IBM are important considerations -- 3 Days a month could be Innovation Jam for companies -- Problems-to-Solutions with incentives and other recognition in place. 

 

This may or may not be helpful, but I thought it was interesting in how IBM varied other components (time and representation) within their system of what I'll term "problem-to-solution social computing." 

"tenets of social computing"

Check out Charlene Li's blog entry on "Social Computing". Key "tenets of social computing" outlined by Charlene:

• innovation will shfit from top-down to bottom-up
• value will shift from ownership to experience
• power will shift from institutions to communities

Visit this link for more http://blogs.forrester.com/charleneli/2006/02/forrsters_socia.html

James Clar on YouTube

As seen on YouTube (www.youtube.com) . . .

A fan of James Clar's work uploaded a video of the 3D Display System
as exhibited at Wired Magazine's Nextfest (www.nextfest.net).

You can see the video here. It is very slick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTow7c6-9wQ&mode=related&search