User:Trelken/physicalworlddatabaseproject

The Physical World Database project is a web based data store of information about objects found in the physical world based on the concepts of object hyperlinking. The database was originally built in MySQL by OracleJane LLC in 2006 to support a training methodology called point-of-need learning, but has since converted to Oracle 11g and has moved beyond its purely training and education bias.

The Physical World Database is based on the premise that a user with an Internet enabled cell phone will access object information by entering the objects identifier, which serves as its physical world hyperlink or hardlink. The identifier may be the objects part number, its common name or any alphanumeric identifier the link author wishes to use.

Access to the database is intended via any Internet enabled mobile device such as a cell phone. The access points or URL’s are called channels and there are approximately 5 freely available channels and more private channels, all returning the same results with varying presentation of the search.

Critics of the project point out that it is not a true open source project in that the database access API’s are only selectively made available by request and the database is still owned by a privately held company. Another criticism is that since the database structure was designed for educational purposes it does not lend itself well to more entertainment based uses.