Talking about notifications on systems that matter, and going beyond notification to action
Here’s a light bulb that can send your cell phone a message when it goes out. Think about it – you could generate a household “to do” list via SMS! However, I think that Gizmodo is right, the light bulb application isn’t really for home use. I like the idea, but how about pushing it even further. Let’s see how you could. These comments at Engadget are quite good, with several business-service-management-sounding ideas that caught my eye. For example, shouldn’t the light bulb tell that it’s about to go out rather than “I’m out”? Why make the light bulb the smart part, instead, make the socket the smart part, since you don’t replace sockets very often? With light bulbs it’s pretty easy to detect that it’s out with a visual check. Seems like detection of darkness might be the better indicator. Also, how do you ensure your cell phone is working when the message comes through? Better yet, hook it up with a system that automatically orders and delivers more light bulbs when you need them. And that’s the connection to Business Service Management for me. Let’s keep pushing the information layers out of abstraction and into practical application.
Here’s another example from a home automation standpoint. It would be great to automatically generate a grocery list each week. You’d have to install a barcode scanner in both your refrigerator and pantry doors as well as your trash can. Yes, you can buy the smart fridge that scans barcodes, but I haven’t seen the smart garbage can yet that knows when you’ve thrown out a food container. There are plenty of smart appliances, like the microwave that knows how long to cook the food. Apparently kitchen trends are going in this direction. I do hope the smart kitchen designers will eventually catch on that your ultimate goal is the grocery list, or shopping, or having food renewed, or being able to generate lists based on recipes, and so on. It would be way cool to run a report on whether you could make your favorite recipie based on what’s in your fridge and pantry. Atwell, maybe you don’t want to justify that Sub-Zero fridge after all, unless it’s a smart one. 🙂
This real-world kitchen application is similar to how IT’s ultimate goal is to further their businesses’ offerings in services and to help their business make winning recipes. How have you set your notifications and pushed them further out towards the systems that can help you solve the problem? Are you notifying on the crux of the problem, such as “It’s dark in this hallway”, or are you notifying on something more system-like, such as “The lightbulb is out.” Food for thought.
Guess I’ve got food and cooking on my mind, huh? Happy Thanksgiving everyone.