Bureaucrats, developer, Administrators
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==Hardware requirements of the Consumerium project== | ==Hardware requirements of the Consumerium project== | ||
Hardware requirements are divided into three parts: | Hardware requirements are divided into three parts: | ||
#Requirements of consumer's terminal | #Requirements of consumer's terminal | ||
#Store's infrastructure's requirements | #Store's infrastructure's requirements | ||
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Consumer's terminal is usually a mobile telephone because that apparatus can often be found in the consumers pocket or hand bag. A PDA can also be used as a terminal if it is equipped with suitable networking ability. We presume that markets will direct development into such a state that in approximatelly the year 2005 there will be on the mass market a mobile phone that offers the following features: | Consumer's terminal is usually a mobile telephone because that apparatus can often be found in the consumers pocket or hand bag. A PDA can also be used as a terminal if it is equipped with suitable networking ability. We presume that markets will direct development into such a state that in approximatelly the year 2005 there will be on the mass market a mobile phone that offers the following features: | ||
*The mobile phone has a short-range wireless network technology built-in. Our presumption is that this technology is Bluetooth(tm). We've just received confirmation that Bluetooth v1.1 has finally the possibility to network devices, without revealing the device's identity (BD_ADDR in the case of Bluetooth)�to other parties. This anonymity is an unconditional requirement for a networking technology suitable for Consumerium because if the user's identity or his/her terminal's identity were to be exposed to the merchant, it would be possible to gather data about the consumer's behaviour and tastes without his/her permission and knowledge, and to utilize this data in target marketing or pricing.� | *The mobile phone has a short-range wireless network technology built-in. Our presumption is that this technology is [[w:Bluetooth|Bluetooth]](tm). We've just received confirmation that Bluetooth v1.1 has finally the possibility to network devices, without revealing the device's identity ([[BD_ADDR]] in the case of Bluetooth)�to other parties. This [[anonymity]] is an unconditional requirement for a networking technology suitable for Consumerium because if the user's identity or his/her terminal's identity were to be exposed to the merchant, it would be possible to gather data about the consumer's behaviour and tastes without his/her permission and knowledge, and to utilize this data in target marketing or pricing.� | ||
*The mobile phone has an programming enviroment that is open to developers, so that Consumerium's Consumer Agent or one component of it can be installed on the phone. The J2ME-enviroment seem very suitable at the first glance and it seems that Java is gaining a broad support among phone manufacturers. | *The mobile phone has an programming enviroment that is open to developers, so that Consumerium's [[Consumer Agent]] or one component of it can be installed on the phone. The [[w:J2ME]]-enviroment seem very suitable at the first glance and it seems that Java is gaining a broad support among phone manufacturers. | ||
The two features described above are the only features that are ''necessary'' for the consumer's terminal. In the following I describe a few additional hardware features, which would enhance the usability of the system. | The two features described above are the only features that are ''necessary'' for the consumer's terminal. In the following I describe a few additional hardware features, which would enhance the usability of the system. | ||
*The phone could have a built-in digital camera. I've just tried out the new Nokia 7650 (tm) model, which is Nokia's first phone with a fitted camera. The focusing and resolution properties of 7650 were maybe just a little bit too poor that one could use the pictures to OCR the numerical representation of EAN-codes. But it came very close, so hopes are high that OCRing the code will be possible in the near future. | *The phone could have a built-in digital camera. I've just tried out the new Nokia 7650 (tm) model, which is Nokia's first phone with a fitted camera. The focusing and resolution properties of 7650 were maybe just a little bit too poor that one could use the pictures to OCR the numerical representation of EAN-codes. But it came very close, so hopes are high that OCRing the code will be possible in the near future. | ||
*The phone could have a bar-code scanner. This would be a perfect hardware feature for Consumerium usability. It would boost the speed and precision of using Consumerium, but unfortunatelly it doesn't seem one of the likeliest gadgets to be integrated into a mobile phone. I've been in contact with Nokia about this feature and I got information that Nokia and other phone-manufacturers have researched the feasibility of integrating a bar-code scanner. At the moment I don't have knowledge of anything concretic happening in this area, but hey, who knows? | *The phone could have a bar-code scanner. This would be a perfect hardware feature for Consumerium usability. It would boost the speed and precision of using Consumerium, but unfortunatelly it doesn't seem one of the likeliest gadgets to be integrated into a mobile phone. I've been in contact with Nokia about this feature and I got information that Nokia and other phone-manufacturers have researched the feasibility of integrating a bar-code scanner. At the moment I don't have knowledge of anything concretic happening in this area, but hey, who knows? | ||