New Technology - News Business Career Jobs Education World Books High Tech Online Articles

By: Mario Cacciotollo

A clever little gadget smaller than a pack of gum
"You could say our main competitors are Post-it notes!"
"We insist upon a high level of security and confidentiality."

A recent advert for a major UK bank proclaims 'it's the big ideas that change the world.' Well, here's a big idea that could change the world, and it's incredibly small; five millimeters, to be precise.

findtheDOT, inc., an Oakland, California-based start-up, has developed the concept of the Power DOT - a small circular graphic that enables consumers to have instant and personalized information about products they read about in magazines, newspapers and catalogues.

Although these miniscule DOTs appear to be identical, each DOT is slightly different and there are literally trillions of them available. Each DOT represents a unique 2-D matrix code linked to a unique piece of information.

A clever little gadget smaller than a pack of gum

Wherever you see a DOT, you can 'tap' it with your Personal Information Assistant, or PIA, (a clever little gadget smaller than a pack of gum), which can store the information encoded from up to 100 Power DOTs. Then, when you are within approximately 30 feet of your PC, the DOT finder instantly activates the wireless connector attached to your machine. Within 60 seconds, an email directly pertaining to the subject matter upon which the DOT was printed is sent to your account. This will contain further details on whatever it was you were interested in, all provided through a secure, fast, specific electronic message from the organization responsible for the DOT. There are benefits for advertisers and publishers too, as this action will bring a completely new dimension to their editorial and advertisements.

If you read a magazine article about surfing, for example, tap the DOT to receive more information about the best places to surf. See a concert guide? Tap the DOT to receive a concert schedule and - get this - if you allow your postcode to be used, perfectly securely, then the email will include the nearest venue and closest ticket office to your home. Tap a DOT on the cover of a music magazine, and receive a promotional MP3 track in your Inbox.

If you see something in a newspaper that you want to show to a friend or colleague, don't cut it out. Simply tap the DOT, receive it in email form, and then forward it. There's no longer the need for pinning up scraps of paper, searching for a pen or relying on your memory - one tap and you can have instant and personalized information sent to you, along with further details and promotions in many cases. These are just some of the possibilities for this incredible new concept, which seem almost as infinite as the DOTS themselves. There are apparently enough combinations to print 500 Power DOTS for every person on the planet, every day for 1000 years, so there's no danger of an immediate shortage.

"You could say our main competitors are Post-it notes!"

Kim Rubin, CEO of findtheDOT, inc., is currently preparing for the launch of the DOT generation by negotiating with 1st tier companies, market leaders in their particular field in both the US and Europe, who are interested in becoming regular exponents, or sponsors, of the Power DOT. "The whole aim of the project is to give people more information on what they need," says Rubin. "You could say our main competitors are Post-it notes!"

Rubin is aiming to have the DOT finder available free, from various sources such as a company already familiar to the user, so that their device becomes linked to a certain brand, or as a department store reward for loyal customers, for example. However it is done, the finder will come in a package complete with software and wireless connector. "We intend the DOT finder to be on people's key rings. When the benefit is there, people will carry stuff."

One promotional activity findtheDOT are doing is giving away a free personal Power DOT to anyone who wants one. The resultant email would contain your business card, so put your DOT where you like and have your correct business details readily available.

"We insist upon a high level of security and confidentiality."

Any 'sponsors' of DOTS will be under a tight contract from findtheDOT. "We will monitor the content of the emails to ensure relevance to where the DOT is printed," Rubin explains. "We will also monitor for acceptable conduct, and to ensure that at least 90% of emails are sent within a minute. If the sponsor breaks the contract, we not only have the power to block further messages, but to expose any inappropriate behavior of these companies. We insist upon a high level of security and confidentiality."

Next time you see a punctuation mark, look again.

Visit www.findtheDOT.com for more information.

© Copyright 2001. Galt Western Personnel Ltd. Unless otherwise specified, you may reprint this article, quote from it, use it in research or projects, duplicate it or distribute it. Credit of authorship and source MUST be given to galtglobalreview.com. Ownership of Copyright remains with Galt Western Personnel Ltd.

Return to Top

Business News / Business Roundup - Australia / Canada / Europe / United States / Careers / Classified / Information Technology / New Technology / Education News / World Facts / Book Reviews / Archives/Research