The notions of ubiquitous computing and networking, and the increasing availability of compact, low power sensing technologies naturally lead to the idea that we can expect to see large numbers of sensors embedded in the fabric of our everyday lives and that these could form a "Real World Web" of real-time data sources about our world. Implications for e-Research include sharing of real-time data from scientific instruments and aggregation of many types of information to answer complex

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... as they arise. The World Wide Web was made possible through a combination of the increasing availability of the Internet, simple network protocols, and open content and delivery standards. The Real World Web can only grow and become self-sustaining if we pay attention to these same core design values of simplicity and openness. Recent developments in cloud computing and in Web 2.0 technologies and design stances provide enablers from which to build the Real World Web, but in addition, require a shift in thinking away from a classical Web services and layered standards model. This paper explores these issues and the role of the Real World Web as a paradigm for sharing instruments, sensors and other real-time data sources in e-Research collaborations.