The Internet is ideal for this purpose. Thus the ability to implement the Internet's basic communications protocols in silicon will dramatically lower the cost of building online access into relatively dumb devices, which in turn should cause the number of Net-connected devices to skyrocket. In the United States, companies such as EarthLink and America Online have built huge Internet dial-up systems. Serving mostly residential customers, these networks are nowhere near capacity during business hours or late at night. YSI recently partnered with Aquadyne Computer of San Diego to create a system for monitoring the quality of water used in aquaculture.
Sensors make a variety of water quality readings, then dump the data onto the Internet.
The system can also monitor parameters like dissolved oxygen and automatically send e-mail messages when it detects a problem. If iReady's technology becomes widespread, Koyama says, it could change the way that Internet service providers collect revenue. Companies that build the Internet Tuner into their products are likely to want a different kind of pricing. The idea is that a million devices might each dial into the Net once or twice a day and stay online for less than a minute. While companies have developed the technology that such a system requires, they don't necessarily possess the wisdom that such capabilities demand.