Could open source tools make Facebook the next AOL? – Computerworld.

She starts out by stating, “I’m a couch potato.” Aren’t we all?

Eugenia’s experience with her PS3 with Netflix and Hulu Plus leads her to believe that the best way forward is to bake this kind of functionality into televisions.

I get all these movies, shows, documentaries that make me want to ditch my Comcast box (which costs me a whopping $90 per month for the HD channels and DVR — and that’s without the movie channels or HBO). The only thing that’s missing from the new experience is Live TV (e.g. sports). But if a “smart” platform reaches our TVs, that lets you run applications, and have access to Netflix/Hulu/etc. content via their native applications for that platform, then Live TV will be inevitable.

I’m not sure whether I agree or disagree with that specific point, but I think her target of “the couch potato” is very illustrative.

Most online media platforms (Google, Boxee, and to a lesser degree Hulu and Netflix) are structured more towards searching for online videos as opposed to just delivering them. To a couch potato, that sounds like work.

Digital Video Recorders are similar technology that has taken off smashingly well. It is easy to use a DVR.  They fit the way television programming is structured — it’s simple to record an episode or series, and every series is packaged together in easily navigable folders.  Internet TV doesn’t even come close.

Eugenia ends on a very insightful note:

The only real obstacle in the kind of future I present in this article are Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon. These companies make big business over their cable TV solutions, and it’s unfortunate that they’re also internet providers. Do you really think that Comcast will let you stream this highly competitive content over their network? I didn’t think so. It’d be like committing business suicide. …

So it all comes down to net neutrality. If this much-discussed law passes, at last, eventually our TVs will get revolutionized. Maybe it will take a few more years for all the TV manufacturers to settle down to the same platform, but it will happen.

I agree!

The health sector is actually working on this problem. In an interesting post about the concept of “meaningful use” the author shows how restrictions on data might be loosened a bit to the benefit of everyone involved(Analysis: A defining moment for “meaningful use” – O’Reilly Radar). One example:

Another important relaxation is in the area of e-prescribing. This is the ability to electronically send an accurate and understandable prescription directly to a pharmacy.

By focusing on exactly how information might be used by stakeholders, rather than enforcing blanket restrictions, there may be some real gains in the quality of patient care. I think a similar concept for FERPA might have similar benefit.

This is along the same lines of my previous post about the Tweeting CNN editor, but zooms out for a much broader view of the impact of online social networks on our moral frameworks. I have to dig deeper on this one, so I can’t comment here, but hopefully someone finds it interesting.

Apple has recently replied to a congressional question about the GPS data collection:

In a 13-page reply to questions posed by Representative Ed Markey from Massachusetts and Congressman Joe Barton from Texas, Apple said it collects GPS data daily from iPhones running OS 3.2 or iOS 4. The phones collect the GPS data and encrypt it before sending it back to Apple every 12 hours via Wi-Fi. Attached to the GPS data is a random identification number generated by the phone every 24 hours. The information is not associated with a particular customer, Apple said. (via Apple lays out location collection policies | ITworld.)

I find Apple’s explanation unconvincing.  While the data may be collected in aggregate, there is no way for the customer to opt out. iPhone owners are under contract with AT&T that imposes a heavy termination fee.  iPhone owners using older versions of iOS are forced to upgrade their phones to the latest version if they ever need to restore their phone or bring it the store. Thus, Apple has used their position to gather this valulable data on the millions of iPhone owners without their consent or the ability to opt out.

According to the article congressman Markey was pleased with the response, while congressman Barton was less than convinced.  I hope they continue to press Apple on this important issue.