The Cloud knows too much
Over in the day job, I released another of our Semantic Webby podcasts last week. This one was with the CEO of a UK-based Semantic Web startup called Garlik.
Garlik is active in the online identity space, and their initial (free) offering is a service called DataPatrol. Given the minefield of database access negotiations and legal constraints, it's only available in the UK just now, but it's well worth a look if you're here.
Feed their website some name and address information, wait for a letter to arrive with a password to close the circle, and away you go. DataPatrol essentially undertakes a credit check on you, and back comes all of the information that finance companies and others are reading on their screens when they look at you so pityingly as you attempt to buy a car/house/Starbucks coffee.
The Cloud, it would appear, knows an awful lot about me. DataPatrol and Garlik do a nice job of showing just how visible my affairs are, and of offering guidance about ways in which risk might be mitigated. Oh, and apparently I need to borrow more in order to make it easier to borrow...! :-)
It's a free service, and I doubt that the finance companies are paying Garlik in order that their customers might be better informed, so I'll be interested to see what Garlik does next.
Technorati Tags: Garlik, Podcasting, Semantic Web, Talis, Talking with Talis, Web 3.0
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