Critics of my Always On rants (and I know they get tiresome) see the expense of radio-equipped sensor chips as a stumbling block.

In fact, sensor chips are already the Next Big Thing.

As Inc. notes this month putting a chip inside a consumer product is a hot trend.

I hate to quote Carly Fiorina, but here goes. "Anything with a chip in it becomes a platform for the delivery of services."

Most companies interested in smart objects are looking to specialized service providers for follow-up. The point I want to make is that is not necessary. If the software and data transmission of the chip is based on industry standards – IP, Linux, WiFi – then anyone can have that application in their home.

This not only helps make smart products ubiquitous, but moves the point of failure to the customer’s control, and reduces liability risks. Moving chip control to the consumer also means they're watching their stuff, and they're getting reports on their stuff, rather than someone else is watching their stuff. Big difference.

For many corporations in the Inc. story product chips are a way to improve service and margins. Grantex put chips on its uniforms and was able to offer more variety without more cost. (The Grantex home page is the source of the illustration leading this item.)

But the revolution happens when chips go into consumer products, and those products go into homes. That’s the World of Always On.