Inner Cow

Sensors, Sensors They're coming, a whole lot of them, and soon, the already saturated airwaves will have even more data using up frequency gaps. (Data smog anyone? or just dasmog?) They will also be a whole lot better than the sensors of today. Today's sensors are usually stationary data collectors that send data to a central processor for dissemination and interpretation. Tomorrow's will create wireless, intelligent networks that will not only share information, but also interpret and make decisions based on the information at hand. (I remember reading an article a little while back about the same concept being used to produce small, sub-orbital satellites that can link up and create networks, thereby increasing their usefulness and intelligence.) The range of applications for such devices can be anything from monitoring industrial processes, buildings and large scale infrastructure (bridges, roads, etc.), vehicles, climate conditions, all the way to military applications. The US DARPA has been investing heavily in this area in the last few years. Just imagine drones dropping thousands of little 'insects' into enemy territory before the invasion forces hit the ground - now imagine those sensors relaying back enemy troops movement, battlefield conditions, etc. That's enough to make any three star general salivate. Read the article from MIT Technology Review, or download the PDF that has some cool pictures!