John von Neumann stellte einmal folgendes kleines Raetzel auf uns die Mathematische Spieltheorie etwas naeher zu bringen: Ein Triell ist im wesentlichen ein Duell mit drei statt zwei Beteiligten. Eines Morgens beschliessen Herr Schwarz, Herr Grau und Herr Weiss, einen Streit duch ein Pistolentriell zu beenden, bei dem am Ende nur einer Ueberleben wird. Herr Schwarz ist der schlechteste Schuetze, denn er trifft sein Zeil durchschnittlich nur einmal in drei Versuchen. Herr Grau schiess schon besser, bei drei Versuchen trifft er zweimal. Herr Weiss ist der beste Schuetze, er trifft immer. Um das Triell fairer zu gestallten, darf Herr Schwarz als erster schiess, danach Herr Grau (wenn er noch lebt), dann Herr Weiss (wenn er noch lebt). Schliess beginnt das Ganze von vorne, bis nur noch einer von ihnen am Leben ist. Die Frage lautet nun: "Wo sollte Herr Schwarz beim erstenmal hinzielen?"

Labels: Economics

Cambridge University's Institute for Manufacturing and the Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT) running a joint research and development on Auto-ID technology.

Auto-ID technology will change the world by merging bits and atoms together to form one seamless network that interacts with the real world in real time. Physical objects will have embedded intelligence that will allow them to communicate with each other and with businesses and consumers. Auto-ID technology offers an automated, numeric system of smart objects that revolutionizes the way we manufacture, sell, and buy products.

An Electronic Product Code (ePC) is embedded onto individual products and physical objects on memory chips known as "smart tags" that connect objects to the Internet. Auto-ID technology will allow the Internet to extend to everyday objects. Everything will be connected in a dynamic, automated supply chain that joins businesses and consumers together in a mutually beneficial relationship.

Auto-ID uses passive tags that respond to a specific radio signal. A tiny capacitor on the chip stores enough energy from the incoming signal to send out a response. The tags only respond when near a special reader device.

A 96-bit code of numbers called an Electronic Product Code (ePC) is embedded in a memory chip (smart tag) on individual products. Each smart tag is scanned by a wireless radio frequency "reader," which transmits the product's embedded identity code to the Internet, where the "real" information on the product is kept. That information is then communicated back from cyberspace to provide whatever information is needed about that product.

The ePC works together with a Product Markup Language (PML) and an Object Naming Service (ONS). PML is a new standard "language" for describing physical objects to the Internet in the same way that HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the common language on which most Internet web sites are based. The ONS tells computer systems where to find information about any object that carries an ePC code, or smart tag. ONS is based in part on the Internet's existing Domain Name System (DNS), which routes information to appropriate web sites. The ONS will likely be many times larger than the DNS, serving as a lightening fast "post office" that locates data for every single one of trillions of objects carrying an ePC code.