RFID
I've come up with the killer RFID app. This hits home like nothing before. The act of tracking packages in transit or at the discount store pales in importance. The killer RFID app seeks to solve a very simple, yet pervasive problem that affects us all. And it seeks to help us where we need the help the most: at home.
RFID (Radio frequency identification) technology provides a means to store and retrieve data using RFID tags. RFID tags are tiny antenna-bearing transmitters that are built into or affixed (using a label) to a host object. These tags are designed to receive and respond to RFID transceivers. RFID systems are increasingly used as inventory control methods, and can be found tracking items as diverse as family pets, beer kegs, shipping palettes library books, and airline baggage.
This takes it a step further ...
How much further? How about into your sock drawer?
How many times have you misplaced a single sock? You have five minutes to get dressed and get out the door. You're running around the place, completely stressed out. You have one sock, but its mate is nowhere to be found. "Where's that #$%&@! sock?"
Just where those pesky AWOL things go, it's impossible to say. They might fall into a black hole behind the clothes dryer. Or maybe your little brother or significant other likes to play cruel tricks by hiding them.
The cause doesn't matter. The killer RFID app would solve the age-old problem of the missing sock.
Here's how it would work:
Each item of clothing (say, a sock) would have a special encapsulated RFID tag sewn into an unobtrusive place. Encapsulated RFID tags use a protective coating to prevent damage, ensuring that they survive harsh environments (in this case, the clothes washer and dryer). Wireless battery-powered active RFID transponders would be positioned throughout the house.
Your PC would run a program to pull inventory information from the household RFID grid. You would know where each and every RFID tagged item is located at any given moment.
The missing sock dilemma would be solved. Collective blood pressures would be lowered. Peace would reign in the land. And your little brother or significant other would have to find a new way to irritate you.
Of course, it's not just about socks. It's about those missing keys, remote controls, favorite shirts, and dog leashes. With the right setup and a RFID tag, everything could be located within your household matrix with a few clicks.
Science fiction? Or just a few years away?
Posted by geekbooks at August 7, 2004 05:28 PM
