Passing your identity among web sites

An interesting look at the emergence of "Identity Networks" by Stephen Downes (Identity Networks Are Here).
For example, one of the services (TypeKey) intro page says: "TypeKey is a free, open system providing you a central identity for posting comments on weblogs and logging into other websites."

It probably seems a little esoteric to the layperson right now, but I think it is something that we will all deal with in the not-too-distant future.

Stephen finishes the post by saying:
"And I think that educational providers, who have focused almost exclusively on centralized or federated approachs thus far, will have to take note. People today get their own names, addresses and phone numbers. In the future, they will get their own net identities, and the universities won't provide it for them. This then raises the wisdom of heavy investment in an alternative schools-only system."

More...
http://halfanhour.blogspot.com/2006/06/
identity-networks-are-here.html