Your attention

I have picked up a few references over the past couple of days as I catch up on various blogs about the issue of "attention data". This isn't really anything specific to Asia but caught my attention as it is an issue which has the potential to knock holes in many online business models including those such as Amazon.com's which rely on them gathering data on where I have been focusing my attention.

Attentiontrust.org is a not-for-profit dedicated itself to promoting this concept based on the following principles:

When you pay attention to something (and when you ignore something), data is created. This "attention data" is a valuable resource that reflects your interests, your activities and your values, and it serves as a proxy for your attention.

AttentionTrust and our members believe that you have the following rights:

1. Property

You own your attention and can store it wherever you wish. You have CONTROL.

2. Mobility

You can securely move your attention wherever you want whenever you want to. You have the ability to TRANSFER your attention.

3. Economy

You can pay attention to whomever you wish and receive value in return. Your attention has WORTH.

4. Transparency

You can see exactly how your attention is being used. You can DECIDE who you trust.

Several 'big names' of the Internet are involved with this including Steve Gillmor.