This post is part of Mashables Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.Name: Bumped.inQuick Pitch: Bumped.in is an online community for people on the move. Every time we travel, we cross paths with people who could potentially enrich our lives. But oftentimes, were missing an outlet that allows us to connect, network and interact.Genius Idea: For years, sites like Tripit and Dopplr have existed to give travelers a simple and potentially fun way to share their itineraries and trips with friends. Bumped.in takes a similar approach to travel plans but hopes to throw in a bit of social media serendipity to create fruitful connections for frequent commuters and travelers.After signing up and filling out your profile, you can use Bumped.in to add plane and train trips to start your own digital travel logs a.k.a Bump Walls. You can use the Bump Walls to share photos and status update-like notes about each trip. Trips can be one-time-only voyages or of the everyday commuter variety, and you can share them privately with friends or publicly with others.You can also use the site to uncover nearby hotels or dining hotspots, and take advantage of the Facebook integration to publish travel log entries to the social networking site, and to find friends already using Bumped.in.Bumped.in also works to introduce and connect travelers with similar interests who are destined to cross paths (and may never know it) on the same flight or train ride.The idea is to play matchmaker only romantically if users so choose for people looking to connect with fellow passengers and commuters. The matching engine is designed to help you search for and match up with other users both before and during a trip. Find a match, request a meeting through Bumped.in, and voila, youre one step closer to cementing a new relationship and making a travel buddy.Bumped.in is brand new so its promise to enhance the entire travel experience is a bite premature. Should enough users start to use the site, however, it could be an interesting way to find and connect with like-minded people that otherwise would have passed you by.Sponsored by Microsoft BizSparkBizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.[img credit: salimfadhley]Reviews: Dopplr, Facebook, TripItMore About: bumped.in, startup, travelFor more Tech coverage:Follow Mashable Tech on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
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I posted to digg.com
Website Aims to Connect Commuters Through Social Serendipity
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/bumped-in/
August 27 2010, 4:14pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
Digg v4: release, iterate, repeat.
http://kevinrose.com/blogg/2010/8/27/digg-v4-release-iterate-repeat.html
At Digg it's our job to try new things, analyze the usage data, iterate, and evolve. While not everyone is happy w/the new design, as of right now the usage looks extremely good (ie. more people registering (43,000+ new users yesterday), digging, consuming, clicking, following, etc.). Our top priority is to stabilize the site, then we'll look at the data/feedback and make decisions on what to change going forward.
That said, I want to address some of the common concerns I've seen dug up.
The upcoming section is gone.Out of 200+ Million pageviews in July, only 0.4% was from upcoming (yes, that's less than 1/2 of a percent). I definitely see the fun behind wanting to see stories just before they jump, so we'll add a view of upcoming popular stories soon.
Mainstream outlets and power users have been given more power over the front page.All diggs are still equal, nothing has changed there. Our directory of recommended users will eventually open to the entire world. We will sort users, not on popularity (followers), but based on how good you are at finding/digging content (similar to wefollow.com). This will remove the popularity contest and put the focus on quality diggers.
The default homepage is now "My News" and cannot be changed.Makes sense, we'll add this setting.
All your favorites have been deletedOur fault, we'll add these to your "saved stories" section.
Comments from your friends preempt the main discussion.This was by design, we wanted to give you a quick way to see your friends comments.
The comment box is three lines high, not resizable, and type out light blue text on white.We just changed the text to dark grey, we'll look into the resizing.
Timestamps have been removed.This is a bug, hope to have this fixed soon.
The bury button is gone.By removing the bury button we have put a stop to the bury brigades. The "hide" button next to every story also acts as a "report" button, if enough people hide a story a site moderator is notified and we review it for TOS violations.
The report button is gone.It's located on every permalink page (comments page) under the story description.
Historicalsubmissions, like the Obama victory thread, have had their digg counts reset and their comment sections mangled.We will fix this.
The color scheme has changed.We refreshed the design. If something is unusable (hard to read etc.) please let us know.
The thumb up and down icons have been replaced w/arrows.Look at v3, now back again, the arrows are now diamonds!
Browsing a users comment history is hard.We'll add a comments filter in your profile.
All usernames are now lower-case.We'll fix this.
The RSS feeds no longer work.This is a bug, we'll fix this.
All third-party tools are now broken.This is a bug, hope to have this fixed soon.
Some of these fixes/features will take longer than others, we hope to have the bulk of these issues resolved soon. Keep the feedback coming, thanks!
August 27 2010, 3:23pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
Our Favorite YouTube Videos this Week: The Science Edition
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/youtube-roundup-science/
Do you ever stare off into the cosmos, wondering about all the matter and particles swirling about in the universe? Or gaze into the spiraling petals of a rose and contemplate the Golden Ratio and all it connotes?No? Well, take some time out from your weekend of quietly quaffing to think, really think, about why, oh why the forces of nature chose to forge us within this mighty smithy we call life. Strain your mind, dear reader, and test the mettle of your brain fibers ruminating on the fact that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophyOr, you could just watch this weeks YouTube roundup, the theme of which is science!Take a look down below and get yourselves some education, you desk set daredevils. Bill Nye The Science Guy on Heat (Full Clip) Ben Parr: SCIENCE RULES! "The Elements Song" Erica Swallow: There's nothing sexier than high school chemistry. These two lads really get the ladies screaming with their rendition of Tom Lehrer's ode to the Periodic Table, "The Elements." William Li: Can We Eat to Starve Cancer? Ben Parr: William Li discusses how angiogenesis and eating certain foods could be the key to fighting cancer Don "Mr. Wizard" Herbert Explains Pioneer Laserdisc (1980) Christina Warren: Man, I wanted a LaserDisc player so bad and my parents were all, "No Christina, we will not buy you this expensive player and then buy you $99 movie discs." Fortunately the movie collecting bug really hit me in 1999 or so, when the DVD was exploding and I was 16 and had a job at the mall to feed my habit. Dexter's Laboratory, Dollhouse Drama Stephanie Marcus: Dexter's Laboratory is cartoon science goodness (I miss the '90s). Riva Starr feat. Noze "I Was Drunk" OFFICIAL VIDEO - OUT 26TH SEPTEMBER Brenna Ehrlich: Some horrible... or wonderful scientific glitch has resulted in this baby sprouting facial hair. I enjoy Balkan music videos... Dawkins vs. Tyson Amy-Mae Elliott: (some NSFW language) In this short clip American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson quite correctly criticizes British scientist Richard Dawkins's tone, but it's Dawkins who has the last laugh with a hilarious NSFW anecdote. It
makes for a lovely moment between the two great men, both of whom have
done so much in their respective countries to popularize science.Image courtesy of iStockphoto, TommLReviews: YouTube, iStockphotoMore About: favorite-youtube-videos, humor, pop culture, Science, viral video, youtubeFor more Web Video coverage:Follow Mashable Web Video on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Web Video channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
August 27 2010, 3:09pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
How Non-Profits are Exploring Augmented Reality Tech
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/augmented-reality-non-profits/
Geoff Livingston co-founded Zoetica to focus on cause-related work, and released an award-winning book on new media Now is Gone in 2007.Augmented reality promises a new level of interaction between people and data. Now, even the newest for-profit applications can turn heads by utilizing this new advanced technology.The non-profit sector has started to experiment with augmented reality. One of Sunlight Labs early entries is their Recovery.gov mashup. Another example is Amsterdams Allard Pierson Museum, which highlights virtual reconstructions of Satricum and the Forum Romanum. But while there are early leaders, non-profits generally lag behind in market experimentation.Several technical non-profits are currently experimenting with augmented reality, said Nathan Makino, Chief Executive Officer of Immersive Tech, a non-profit focusing on the adoption of immersive technology. Other non-profits support and participate at the International Symposium for Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR) Non-technical NPOs may need a few more years for AR to become mainstream enough to warrant its adoption.Looking into this adoption cycle shows several reasons why non-profits are not experimenting as much with augmented reality as other business sectors. There are, however, clear trends toward the future of non-profit augmented reality that can help guide early adopters.Non-Profits Need More than Just CoolNon-profits are often cash strapped. In fact, this year alone has seen 40% of non-profits receive less funding. Engaging with a new technology often requires funding or a clear return on investment, whether that be education, fundraising or activism.Many non-profits are limited in resources both money and time as well as staff technical expertise, said Beth Kanter, author of The Networked Nonprofit. If the technology requires a high price to entry, then it takes longer.For the average non-profit, augmented reality just cant be about playing with a cool, new shiny object. There needs to be a real valuable use, either for the organization or its funders. In that sense, non-profits can learn from some of the endeavors of for-profit industry. Even major corporations that dont feel budgetary pressure as much as many non-profits are hesitant to jump into augmented reality because of concerns over proof of ROI.To me, the biggest challenge is simply finding a reason to do it beyond were using augmented reality, said Christopher Barger, director of global social media at GM, who has used augmented reality to promote some of its automobiles like the Chevrolet Camaro. Whenever theres a hot new technology or application, theres a lot of pressure much of it self-imposed to just dive in or get in there, start using it so that you can say that you are and that youre cutting edge.Our biggest challenge was, and continues to be, cracking that code of finding ways to apply the technology that are useful to an audience, added Barger. The trick [for non-profits], though, will be the same as for a for-profit business: Find a use for AR that provides actual value for the user, gives them a reason to use your app over the hundreds or thousands of others they might download.Further, augmented reality has been met with mixed responses, according to Immersive Techs Makino. I see two main causes for this: Hardware limitations and gimmicky software applications, said Makino, either of which could decrease user value a key component of AR success, according to Barger. Makino echoed Bargers concerns that apps must provide real value to users in order for them to make sense for non-profit investment. For non-profits, AR will be adopted as long as it significantly aids the organization and its mission. the killer app will have to offer utility that standard web based delivery cannot.Full disclosure: Beth Kanter is a co-founder of Zoetica.Some Non-Profit Breakthroughs?Even though non-profits may not be leading the pack towards augmented reality adoption, there are many clear use cases, and adoption by a handful of major organizations indicates that more non-profits may get on board. Especially since development costs are starting to come down.Think about the opportunities for engaging people with service delivery organizations. If someone can actually see where everything is and how to get there, they are probably more likely to go, said Amy Sample Ward, global community development manager for NetSquared, who also pointed out how there are also plenty of opportunities to use AR in teaching environments. Or the opportunities for education (and support appeals) for historic or natural spaces that can integrate with someones experience exploring the space.Though the Allard Pierson Museum has already demonstrated that augmented reality can be useful for educating, the New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative said in their 2010 Horizon Report that theyre still a few years out from widespread adoption. Still, augmented reality is establishing a foothold in the consumer sector, and in a form much easier to access than originally envisioned, the report concluded.Another non-profit use could be for the arts. Consider the physical nature of both visual and performing arts; extending those experiences with data-enhanced information viewed on a screen is a natural progression. I could also see apps that have some simulations that drive advocacy calls to action for museums [or] exhibits, Kanter said. In fact, some visual artists are already exploring the potential of AR.So while the use cases are clearly there, there isnt wide adoption of AR in the non-profit community just yet. It is likely coming, though. Im sure non-profits will begin experimenting with augmented reality this year, said Frank Barry, professional services manager at Blackbaud and blogger at NetWits ThinkTank. Barry said that non-profits need a good proof-of-concept from a pioneer in the space to show others the way. Once that happens others will get a vision and follow.What non-profit uses of augmented reality do you foresee in the near future?More Non-Profit Resources from Mashable: - How CrisisCommons Is Helping the Tech Community Help Others - 5 Social Fundraising Alternatives to Facebook Causes - 5 Non-Profit iPhone Apps You Should Know About - 8 Tips for a Successful Social Media Cause Campaign - How Non-Profits are Using Social Media for Real ResultsImage courtesy of iStockphoto, BliznetsovReviews: iStockphotoMore About: AR, Augmented Reality, business, non-profit, non-profits, nonprofit, techFor more Tech coverage:Follow Mashable Tech on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
August 27 2010, 2:32pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
IdeaPaint
http://www.uncrate.com/men/home/art-decor/ideapaint/
Screw putting up a dry erase board in your home office turn a whole wall into one with IdeaPaint ($30-$175). This ingenious paint turns anything you can paint into...
August 27 2010, 2:31pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
7 Stories About Women Heroes in Tech - Please Send Us More
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/7_stories_about_women_heroes_in_tech_-_please_send.php
The technology press is full of stories of heroic men. In the startup economy, they often take the form of brave men who quit steady day jobs to join crazy startups. That's an inspiring kind of story; I wrote about Louis Gray doing that earlier this week and really enjoyed sharing his news.
But what about women who make that kind of leap? There needs to be more stories told like that. I put out a call on Twitter and Claire Cain Miller of the New York Times said she too wants to tell more stories about brave women in technology. We live in an incredible time of cultural, economic and political change made possible by changing technology. That technology is being driven in many cases by women - so whose stories would you suggest write about here on this blog?
Sponsor
Earlier this week, TechCrunch wrote about Christine Tsai leaving Google to join Dave McClure's investment firm 500 Startups. This Spring, Alexa Andrzejewski left design firm Adaptive Path to work full time on her startup FoodSpotting. Those are cool stories, but we want more.
One place we're excited to look is the upcoming Women Who Tech Telesummit on September 15th. One place we're excited to look is the upcoming Women Who Tech Telesummit on September 15th.
ReadWriteWeb's own Audrey Watters has written about the challenges and upsides of incubating women entrepreneurs.
Perhaps the whole hero-style narrative is a bad idea, unhelpful to community collaboration just like Kaliya Hamlin argues the "war" metaphor is in rhetoric like "the identity war." "I think what is seen as heroic is a narrative of the lone cowboy," Hamlin said to me today. "Teams and communities who foster innovation and achieve together are often not seen and therefor not honored in the same way."
We've written about a number of specific women doing heroic or particularly interesting work in tech here on ReadWriteWeb. Here are 7 of my favorites - please let us know in comments or by email (staff@readwriteweb.com) whose stories are especially compelling that we ought to be writing about. Send them today, tomorrow - and don't stop sending us interesting stories about women, please. Of course there are more ways to have an awesome story than just to quit your job - that's just what got me thinking about this. Please send whatever recommendations you can of women who have great stories that people ought to read.
7 Inspiring Stories
Flickr's Community Manager Says Goodbye
When people talk about managing communities in this new online world, one name is mentioned more often and with more respect than any other: Heather Champ of Flickr. Today Champ announced that after nearly 5 years and more than 4 billion photos uploaded, she is leaving Flickr to start a community management consultancy called Fertile Medium.
Gina Trapani Starts a New Blog
Lifehacker founder and former lead editor Gina Trapani announced this morning that she's started a new blog called Smarterware.org. She says the new site has "no ads, no digg badges, lots of sentences starting with 'I'." It won't have dozens of posts daily under a rigorous publishing schedule - it will be a place for "stuff that fired off a synapse or two in my head," Trapani says.
HGTV Scores Mega-Blogger Heather Armstrong, Dooce
Home and Garden TV just announced that it has signed Heather Armstrong, author of hyper-popular early blog Dooce.com, to collaborate on unspecified "convergence media" projects.
Is Armstrong a woman in tech? As a trailblazer in the effective use of new publishing technologies, I certainly think she is.
An Inside Look Into Boxee's Systematic UX Overhaul Process
The story of Whitney Hess's work on the very hot service Boxee.
Microsoft Makes Key Hire in Researcher Danah Boyd
Microsoft Research has hired social network researcher danah boyd, probably the most high profile academic in the world focused on the emerging web and its social consequences.
How One Teacher Uses Twitter in the Classroom
Teachers are always trying to combat student apathy and University of Texas at Dallas History Professor, Monica Rankin, has found an interesting way to do it using Twitter in the classroom.
What Does it Mean to Make 5 Million Maps? Platial's Legacy
It's not every day that a business shuts down but declares itself a success in helping kick off an unstoppable movement to change the world.
This story, about Di-Ann Eisnor's map publishing service Platial, is one of my favorite stories I've ever written.
Ready for more stories about women doing inspiring things in technology? We'll keep writing them, but we'd love your help discovering them, too.
Illustration titled "Blogging Au Plein Air, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot" by Flickr user Mike Licht
Discuss
August 27 2010, 2:28pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
Mozillas Mobile Browser Alpha Hits Android and Nokia N900 [PICS]
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/fennec-alpha-android/
Mozilla has just released the Fennec 2.0 Alpha for Nokia N900 and Android 2.0+ devices.Fennec is the code name for Firefox mobile and includes the ability to install browser add-ons and sync with the desktop version of Firefox. The new version comes with built-in support for Firefox Sync (what was known as Weave), so that tabs, passwords and bookmarks that you use on your desktop can be easily synced and transferred to your mobile device.The alpha also includes support for pinch-to-zoom on Android, location-aware browsing, the ability to save a site as a PDF, and built-in site sharing via Facebook, Twitter or Google Reader.Like the pre-alpha, Fennec for Android, Fennec has been optimized for the Google Nexus One. However, other ARM 7 devices like the HTC EVO 4G, the Samsung Galaxy S and the Motorola Droid series should also support the alpha.We installed the Fennec alpha on our Samsung Galaxy S Captivate and it was clear that the app is still very much in alpha mode and is possibly not even evolved enough to be labeled alpha, to be honest. In our tests, the app was extremely slow and crashed frequently. This is very clearly still in development and is not in any way, shape or form ready for everyday usage.The app needs 30MB of free memory to run, so be sure to close out any running apps before launching Fennec.The release notes highlight some of the known issues, like the inaccessibility of FTP sites and non-working file uploads. Additionally for Android users, Adobe Flash and other plugins arent supported right now. Also, while multi-touch zoom works on some devices (like the Nexus One and the Samsung Galaxy S), it doesnt work on all devices. The Motorola Droid, for instance, doesnt support multi-touch zoom in Fennec.Having said that, we do like the direction that the browser is taking.Check out our gallery to see screenshots of Fennec 2.0 alpha in action on Android 2.1. Fennec Welcome Screen Fennec Home Screen Fennec Tabs Fennec Bookmarks Fennec Search Mashable on Fennec New York Times on Fennec More About: android, Android apps, Fennec, firefox mobile, mozilla, web browsersFor more Mobile coverage:Follow Mashable Mobile on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Mobile channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
August 27 2010, 2:03pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
Microsoft Co-founder Sues Apple, Google and Facebook
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/microsoft-co-founder-sues-apple-google-facebook/
Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen is suing Apple, Google, Facebook and eight other companies through his current firm, Interval Licensing LLC.The lawsuit alleges that 11 different companies, including YouTube, Netflix and AOL, have violated four different patents associated with web search and e-commerce. As the Wall Street Journal notes, Interval Licensing LLC is a firm that holds IP developed at the now-defunct Interval Research. Interval Research was an incubator that Allen financed during the Internet bubble of the late 1990s.In a statement, Interval describes the patents at the center of the alleged infringements:United States Patent No. 6,263,507 issued for an invention entitled Browser for Use in Navigating a Body of Information, With Particular Application to Browsing Information Represented By Audiovisual Data.United States Patent No. 6,034,652 issued for an invention entitled Attention Manager for Occupying the Peripheral Attention of a Person in the Vicinity of a Display Device.United States Patent No. 6,788,314 issued for an invention entitled Attention Manager for Occupying the Peripheral Attention of a Person in the Vicinity of a Display Device.United States Patent No. 6,757,682 issued for an invention entitled Alerting Users to Items of Current Interest.What is frustrating about this lawsuit, from an outsiders perspective, is that the nature of these patents while based in software and technology also have clear ties to business methods. Unfortunately, the Supreme Courts recent ruling in the Bilski case didnt make the blurry lines between these two areas any more clear.Well update this post with more information after we obtain the actual court filing from PACER.[img credit: Thomas Roche]Reviews: Internet, YouTubeMore About: apple, facebook, Google, interval licensing, lawsuits, patents, Paul AllenFor more Business coverage:Follow Mashable Business on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
August 27 2010, 1:00pm | Comments »
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I posted to digg.com
Net Neutrality: 7 Worst Case Scenarios
http://mashable.com/2010/08/27/net-neutrality-worst-case/
Many consumer advocacy groups, web companies and startups are ranting about the perils of losing net neutrality. Net neutrality, they say, is what made the Internet what it is today by giving small companies the opportunity to become big companies, and it rightly puts the user in full control of what he views on the Internet.Huge telecommunication companies like Verizon, and cable providers like Time Warner, however, could potentially profit a good deal from charging websites like YouTube for priority treatment and faster loading times. They argue that prioritization is necessary for a functional internet and that regulated net neutrality will stunt innovation. Thus the battle between the two groups has commenced.A federal court decided in April that the FCC lacked the authority to impose net neutrality. The FCC fought back in May by deciding to reclassify broadband transmission as a regulable telecommunications service. Verizon and Google spurred additional controversy this month by releasing a joint proposal for a legal regulatory framework.Both sides - those opposed to FCC regulation of net neutrality and those who think its necessary - proclaim that their defeat would be Armageddon. But should we really be this worked up about this? The following are the worst-case scenarios that might emerge from how the conflict could pan out.1. Government Regulation Makes the Internet More Like TVWhen the FCC starts regulating an industry, it has a tendency to continue to add regulations. Some fear that if the FCC starts enforcing net neutrality it would open the door for the FCC to decide what is appropriate content for the web.The government already attempts to determine whats appropriate for you to so see, like R-rated movies during prime time, says Dave Farber, a former chief technologist for the FCC and a professor of computer science and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University. You could see a future FCC doing the same thing with the Internet.2. Provider Discrimination Makes the Internet More Like TVIf the FCC doesnt regulate net neutrality, theres still a chance that the Internet will increasingly end up functioning like television. The fear is that if priority access becomes available, only giant companies will be able to purchase it. Whereas now consumers have infinite choices of Internet content that loads the same way, there will be limited sites available that will enjoy superior access.It could be like cable: A company delivering mediocre content and ads to your home for an inflated fee, says Chris Riley, a policy council at a public advocacy organization that promotes net neutrality called Free Press.Art Brodsky, the communications manager for consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, says that this sort of content restriction would most likely take the form of a select channel section of the Internet. I dont know if they would prevent anybody from surfing, he says. But they could do it the opposite way and say, here are the best things.3. Government Regulation Stunts InnovationA technological detail that many miss in the net neutrality debate is that some web services require differential treatment in order to be functional. Faber, who says he switches between defending and attacking net neutrality based on his mood and the definition in use, points out that innovations like voice over IP would be useless if there were no way of prioritizing that traffic.Wireless, too, has different technological hurdles than broadband Internet that a strict net neutrality policy might make impossible to clear. Opening up the ability to purchase better access times would pave the way for innovations that require superior bandwidth, like high-definition or 3D video. Restrictions on net neutrality, however, could cut off these potentially profitable new innovations.We want the broadband infrastructure to be a platform for innovation, argued Verizon and Google in their joint blog post. Therefore, our proposal would allow broadband providers to offer additional, differentiated online services It is too soon to predict how these new services will develop, but examples might include health care monitoring, the smart grid, advanced educational services, or new entertainment and gaming options.4. An Unfair Playing Field Stunts InnovationGiving priority treatment to companies that can pay fees also raises some concerns about fair play.It freezes out the potential for the next innovators and puts the smaller guys at a disadvantage, Brodsky says. And as we know, its the smaller guys who made the Internet what it is today. And they had a chance to grow into big guys because the Internet is an open place.Instead of becoming the next Google, the fear is that the next Google will instead have to pitch their idea to Google itself. Startups wont be able to afford the fast-lane fee themselves.5. Consumers Pay to Access Internet ContentAs with cable TV, its possible that some of the cost to put websites on the Internets fast lane will be passed on to the consumer.Suppose someone set up a system where, if only I paid a certain amount of money would my IP address get through a sort of cable-ization of the net, Brodsky says. The worst case scenario is that if you want to go to ESPN, it will cost you so much.Faber thinks its more likely that the fees would be passed on to consumers in the form of a micro-increase in the prices of advertisers products. For instance, the price of a bottle of Coke might go up a cent because the websites that Coke advertises on are paying a fee for priority treatment.6. Wireless Networks Overload, the Internet Slows DownVerizon and Google included a phrase in their proposal that allows service providers to engage in a reasonable network management. This would include the power to reduce or mitigate the effects of congestion on its network.Which begs the question: What would happen if the FCC created regulations that banned service providers from mitigating these effects? Would the Internet overload?Well, actually yes, according to some. Steve Largent, the president and CEO of CTIA, the trade association of the wireless communications industry, argues in an editorial for USA Today that the wireless Internet has a finite amount of spectrum that needs to be managed.7. Super Mergers Control the WorldSome fear that without net neutrality, an Internet provider would be able to merge with a media company and make its own content the fastest to access, leaving the consumer with a choice between a long download or viewing that companys content. Some fear that it could get even worse than a collaboration between provider and media company.It might not be Comcast and NBC. It might be Microsoft, Comcast, and NBC, Riley says. Theyd control the software, theyd control the content, and theyd control the pipeline that delivers that content to you.Others, like Faber, argue that a super merger would violate existing Federal Trade Commission regulations and anti-trust laws. Also, aligning with one media company wouldnt be the most profitable route.I just dont understand the economic motive to do it that way, Faber says. If theres any competition at all, thats not going to work.Faber says he has no problem with some companies buying priority treatment from Internet providers as long as all companies have the opportunity buy equal access. As long as everyone can have it, he says, its fair and far preferable to government regulation.Now that youve read the worst that can happen, what do you think? Will any of these become reality? Is the future rosie? Tell us in the comments below.More Tech Resources from Mashable: - HOW TO: Self-Publish Anything Online - 5 Innovative Tech Camps for Kids and Teens - 10 Great Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses of Google [VIDEOS] - 10 Fun Microsoft Facts You Might Not Know - Can Robots Run the News?Images courtesy of iStockphoto, CostinT, Camrocker, subju, titaniumdoughnut.Reviews: Google, Internet, YouTube, iStockphotoMore About: Art Brodsky, Chris Riley, Free Press, Google, net neutrality, public knowledge, time warner cable, verizonFor more Tech coverage:Follow Mashable Tech on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Tech channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad
August 27 2010, 12:46pm | Comments »