Spimes are characteristic entities of the Internet of Things[1]. They are essentially virtual master objects that can, at various times, have physical incarnations of itself[1][2]. An object is considered a Spime when all of its essential information is stored in the cloud.[3] Spimes are the next generation of hyperlinked objects. Depending on context, the term “Spime” can refer to both - the archetype, as designed by the developer, or a user specific instance of it. The definition of a Spime is somewhat ambiguous, since different sources have slightly different views.
Origin
editThe term “Spime" for this concept was coined by author Bruce Sterling. It is a contraction of “space” and “time” which derives from his thought about a Spime being an “object precisely localized in time and space [...] always associated with a history.”[4] The term was probably first used in a large public forum by Sterling at SIGGRAPH Los Angeles, August 2004.[3] The idea was further expanded upon in his book Shaping Things.[5] Later on the term has been adopted by industry members world-wide.
Concept
editCloud centered
editThe master data of Spime is stored in the cloud, this includes but is not limited to the original specificiations and all customization, made by both, the user and the spime's own adaptivity, (e.g., tracking of user activity). A physical device associated with a spime must be completely replicable solely based on the cloud data.
Secondly, Spimes must always be unique and identifiable to a specific user. Before being linked to a user, an archetype Spime contains only the specifications, by which a physical instance can be manufactured and/or a local software instance downloaded.[XXXXXXXXXXXXX] Identifiability applies also to physical incarnations, meaning they must be inserted with a RFID chip[6], or some other way of digitally identifying them.
Spiminess can be perceived as a continuous slider. The more characteristic features a product possesses, the more of a Spime it is. Products that fulfil no more than these requirements are sometimes referred to as Protospimes.[7] (e.g., Netflix)
Transparency
editSpime data would be transparent to the user. In practice, this would mean that when purchasing an object, you could read its RFID, and gain direct access to the cloud data, the Spime. For example, in case of a food Spime, you could check location of cultivation, transportation method, packaging date, packaging material, preservatives used, recommended recipes, etc.[3]
Interactivity
editSpimes often are seen as interactive objects. The interaction can happen by HID-like capabilities, voice command or the device can respond to changes which it detects about its surroundings.[XXXXXXXXXXXXX] For example, a light bulb Spime could obey voice commands, and it could be automated in such a way, that the lights would dim if appropriate brightness was coming through the windows.
Adaptivity
editWhen a user acquires a Spime, it starts gathering data about its surroundings, including user specific usage information.[3] Each Spime starts transforming in its own way to adapt to its user’s needs.[1] Spimes may monitor raw measurements, but also intelligently recognize patterns from the data. The light bulb Spime could track its user’s sleeping patterns, and start dimming the lights when user’s bedtime is approaching.
Physical instances
editIn case of a physical object oriented Spime, one of the envisioned features is the possibility to rapidly construct a physical incarnation based on the virtual representations. Cloud data would include design specifications, for example in the form of Computer Aided Design.[XXXXXXXXXXXXX] The vision is that in the future, all physical objects would be available virtually on the internet. Users could print the items they purchased with their own [3D printers],[XXXXXXXXXXXXX] or get them printed in the local shop. Ideally, material costs would be very low, so that the real value would not be stored in the physical instance, but in the design itself. This would also allow users to create multiple instances of the same Spime.[XXXXXXXXXXXXX]
Spimes will also have a profound effect in the manufacturing industry as more and more mundane physical objects are spimified. Many current products will gradually become services, as people use and perceive their Spimes as the true merchandise. This will also lighten the burden of materiality, since possessions can be discarded and replace at a low cost. [1]
Efficiency and recyclability
editThe Spime concept would be environmentally friendly, since all items would be produced locally, cutting out a large share of shipping.[XXXXXXXXXXXXX] Spimes would also include all history data for the entire existence of the object[3], from its virtual representation through its manufacture, its ownership history, its physical location, until its eventual obsolescence and breaking-down back into raw material to be used for new instantiations of objects.[2] If recorded, the lifetime of the object can be archived, and searched for.[8] This would effectively be a Cradle-to-cradle design, an efficient, waste free system.
Connectivity
editAbility to link a physical incarnation with its virtual representation, the Spime, is a fundamental feature.[6] Machine-to-Machine, M2M, is considered an integral part of the Internet of Things. Spimes could take it even further in the future. Connectivity would not be limited to being between the same type of devices. Instead, all kinds of devices would be universally connected to the cloud, linked to all the information available on the Semantic Web. Cloud would also supply tremendous processing power, providing detailed analysis of big data. A user could also allow his Spimes to share the private information they've collected, to better serve him.
Example
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See also
editSimilar terms
editRelated terms
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Thomas, Sue (2006). "The End of Cyberspace and Other Surprises" (PDF). Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies. 12 (4): 383–391. doi:10.1177/1354856506068316. S2CID 62537041. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ a b Maciag, Timothy; Daryl H. Hepting (2010). "Constructing Collaborative Online Communities for Visualizing Spimes" (PDF). 2010 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e Sterling, Bruce (August, 2004). When Blobjects Rule the Earth (Speech). SIGGRAPH, Los Angeles. Retrieved June 3, 2014]].
{{cite speech}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) Cite error: The named reference "SIGGRAPH" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Pelet, Jean-Eric; Benoît Lecat; Panagiota Papadopoulou (2011). "Enhancing learning and cooperatio n through digital virtual worlds" (PDF). IPEDR Vol.18. Retrieved June 3, 2014. Cite error: The named reference "Pelet" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Sterling, Bruce (2005). Shaping Things. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-69326-7. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
A SPIME is, by definition, the protagonist of a documented process. It is an historical entity with an accessible, precise trajectory through space and time.
- ^ a b Bonanni, Leonardo; Greg Vargas; Neil Chao; Stephen Pueblo; Hiroshi Ishii (February 16–18, 2009). "Spime Builder: A Tangible Interface for Designing Hyperlinked Objects" (PDF). Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Tangible and Embedded Interaction (TEI'09). doi:10.1145/1517664.1517719. S2CID 43426486. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ^ Townsend, J. Eric (April 29, 2006). "On the Path to a Spime-full Future: Proto-spimes". Retrieved June 3, 2014]].
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|blog=ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "Townsend" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Neuvo, Yrjö; Sami Ylönen (2010). Bit Bang II: Energising Innovation, Innovating Energy (PDF). Helsinki, Finland: Helsinki University Print. ISBN 978-952-60-3152-1. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- Sterling, Bruce (2005). Shaping Things. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-69326-7.
A SPIME is, by definition, the protagonist of a documented process. It is an historical entity with an accessible, precise trajectory through space and time.
- Bruce Sterling's talk “Shaping of Things to Come”, given on December 13, 2004 at the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich.
- Bruce Sterling's talk - Lift Conference, Sept 12, 2007. 12 minutes.
- The Internet of Things: What is a Spime and why is it useful?, given on Google Tech Talks April 30, 2007. 49 min 5 sec