Do Not Track Cookie List

Recently there has been a lot of noise and feathers ruffled over Internet Privacy and Congress trying to control some of it. Civil rights groups love it, advertisers hate it. So who's right, who's wrong and how do we clarify this? Read on...

First of all what is the Internet? We know what it is not- a dump truck like the Alaskan Senator pointed out- fair enough, maybe it's a bus or a train riding on the commuter line. Seriously though, the Internet is not a private place-anybody that expects privacy on the Internet is not being realistic. Now let's examine what the Internet is being used for and what it entails before jumping on the privacy (or tracking) bandwagon. The Internet is used to access information, by companies to provide information about their business to their customers, fellow employees, stock holders, potential investors, job seekers, vendors and the general Public. In other words, just like the traditional media like paper, radio and TV, it can be used in a wide variety of ways. The Internet is also used to carry personal & private communications via Email, to collaborate on a project-family or work related, pay bills, banking, shopping, research, socializing-by both individuals and corporations, watching videos, listening to music, gathering news, blogging, etc. It is safe to say that tracking some activities is more unethical than others. For example, when a company sends you a coupon via snail mail, and you use it, they get notified sicne the coupon code is uniquely tied to your name or household address. The companies then use this information to send you targeted coupons to entice you to buy more goods and services-perfectly legal and being done as we speak-right? Why the difference when the mode of transport of these "coupons" is changed from snail mail to Email or Websites? Would the same no tracking cookie apply to store cards? Don't mega store chains track our every move in their stores and then use that information to make us buy more? And by the way, wouldn't that be mutually beneficial?
Now that we have the philosophical discussion out of the way, let us examine possible solutions. After all, what good is debate is no solutions are offered? Agreeing to disagree is all fine and dandy, but if we follow corporate America's meeting policies of agreeing on the next meeting instead of the issue at hand, we would be worse of than when we started since time is after all moolah.

So, let's take a gander shall we?
The United States is a Democracy-we Americans say the best and some disagree with us. In the end, letting the customer decide- using their collective strong opinions and the almighty Dollars that companies are trying to liberate them of, is the best and most efficient course of action.
So one solution could be, leave Congress, the FCC, EFF ABC to the XYZ alphabet soup makers out of this. If online retailers were to give consumer's an option-Opt-in or Opt-out on their next visit-let's call this magic date as D-Day (or Do not track Day). The message could look something like this- We understand that each individual has their own level of comfort when it comes to privacy and so we at ABC company have decided to let you chose for yourself. You can either opt-in or tracking cookies or opt-out and never be tracked again-speak now or forever...
Now you say that takes the side of civil liberties factions shunning businesses- Ahh, not so fast Kemosabe, let's dive a little deeper in the above solution. The message continues once the customer has made the opt-in or out decision. Are you sure you want to opt-out? Opting out will leave our sponsors out in the cold and will also not let us target appropriate goods and services to you. This means we have to pass on those costs to you. Depending on your purchases, and/or Geographic location and local tax laws, this could mean an increase in prices for goods and services we offer between 15 and 30%. We understand that you privacy could be worth a lot more than than and hence would like to let you make that decision. Now a lot of people would say forget this, track me and give me lower prices. Some (in the minority for sure) may say I will pay more for my privacy and still opt-out. Heck companies can even offer an Amazonian Prime'esque service saying "No Cookie Left Behind" and charge $200 or more a year for this service. I know if I were a celebrity, Billionaire, Millionaire, heck even a Hundred Thousandaire, I would pay for privacy.

On the other hand, customers that opt-in for tracking cookies, get a message that says "Thank you for supporting our sponsors & our continued efforts to relieve you of your money" and BTW, here's a coupon for an additional 10% off your next purchase (which we will happily track and sell to advertisers)-so shop, let off a little steam and save $$$.
Some companies are thinking of deploying complicated technology, pay lobbyists, etc to solve this problem. I say let the American people decide with their wallets-look at how the big SUV's were taken down a notch by Americans with tighter (and fatter) wallets that chose hybrids or smaller, fuel efficient vehicles? There was no Do not Pollute law or do not clog up parking lots law that forced automakers to offer smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles was there? It just took some good ol'e American ingenuity and Democracy-voting with thier Dollars in stead of our ballots.
So what do you think? Good, bad or ugly? Either way, I would love comments, feedback, commentary, etc.

Cloud computing and the Chrome OS

Google recently made public the source code for it's first attempt at an Operating system-Chrome; the namesake of it's super fast and secure browser. Now what does that mean for us consumers? Initially, manufacturers that partner with Google will use this as a hammer to beat Microsoft for OEM discounts and so we may see cheaper PC's. After approaching production costs or locations thereof, M$ will not be able to offer any more discounts. Now businesses being what they are, they will try cutting costs even more-t'is the nature of the beast. A business exists for one reason, and one reason alone-to make as much money as possible, as quickly as it can, and without spending a lot to get it. I believe the PR term for that is called “maximizing shareholder value” or something like that.

Anyways, I digress. Chrome OS and cloud computing can come together in some expected ways, and some not so obvious ways. Here is what looks like (it) could be:

• Cloud Computing

Now cloud computing, Infrastructure as a service, Software as a service are all sometimes used interchangeably and sometimes in tandem. Where does the Chrome OS fall? Since Google is providing all the software (Google apps, Gmail, Google search of course, etc) free or close to free; it will be Software-as-a-(free) service. All applications are hosted on the cloud/Google's data center, the end-user does not have to worry about updates, security, etc and concentrate on just getting their work (or play) done. Frequent travelers will benefit mostly from Chrome since they will have a light-weight netbook without a traditional hard drive (only a Solid State drive) that are still able to provide them with all their favorite applications. I know what you're thinking-well what about apps like Photoshop or Dreamweaver or other third-party apps that Google cannot possibly host? Couple of things- First of all this demographic (web designer/programmer) does not travel frequently.

Second, this might spur web based versions-either lite or full-blown versions of third-party apps starting to appear on the cloud (As of the writing of this article, Photoshop already has an online version of it's app with 2 GB free space for storing and editing pictures at Linky.)

• LAN Computing

LAN computing, now pray tell what does this mean? Well, instead of hosting the OS and applications on the big bad (sometimes unreliable and insecure) Internet, why not do it in your data center? Small to medium companies will have one main location with links to remote locations. They could host the OS and apps in their data center with dedicated switches providing 100% uptime. Remember that once the hardware is paid for, LAN's are free (electricity being the only recurring cost which is very small) and are part of the existing infrastructure. So with the purchase of a few servers, backup power and additional cooling/HVAC as needed, companies can quickly deploy LAN computing. The idea is similar to Desktop virtualization where a server would host “virtual machines” and serve them up over the network. The only difference is, desktop virtualization still costs more for operating system (Windows) and application licenses. What is that you say? Chrome OS is probably a type of Desktop virtual machine living on the cloud. Well yes, possibly that, or a solution encompassing similar technology. But it's Linux based and so it will be a lot cheaper (if not eventually free) and it is more secure, faster, and possibly have less bugs. And bugs will be updated for everyone by Google-remember Chrome is a “hands-free” operating system. Hands-free means no tweaking, updating, installing applications, anti-virus and updates, anti-malware/spyware and updates and worrying about data backups.

• WAN Computing

WAN computing of course is taking the LAN computing idea (back) to the cloud. The only difference between WAN computing and cloud computing is ownership. Cloud computing refers to Google or some other OSP (Operating System Provider :) ) and WAN computing refers to company owned infrastructure. In the end, a cost-benefit analysis will determine if companies want to take on the burden of hosting employee OS (infrastructure costs, training and hiring IT employees,etc), or if they would prefer an expert like Google to host it which effectively gives them a single throat to choke, so to say. Of course, depending on customer feedback and it's business plans, Google could offer a “Hybrid” version of Chrome OS. A mini Chrome cloud inside the customer data center which could be managed by Google or by the customer-both scenarios win-win for Google. In the first scenario, Google manages this mini Chrome deployment and charges for managed services. The latter scenario, the customer's IT team gets trained on Chrome thus spreading the Google Chrome Kool-Aid. This also opens up possibilities for Chrome training, certification, etc-all of which will not only generate revenue, but also drive wide-spread adoption of Chrome and thus ensuring even more revenue down the road. What does all this mean for M$? Well, I'm typing this on OpenOffice 3.0 Writer running on a Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Bit OS laptop. Articles in the future, might just be written using Google Apps running on a Chrome Netbook (as long as the screen is 12+ inches of course).

Comments?

Test Run

Testing, or is the protocol "Hello World" for this?