French Railway Company SNCF Launches USB RFID Tickets
By Vlad | September 7, 2008
We have all seen and used the smart tickets that contain the RFID tags. The RFID technology has anyway made shopping, ticketing and labeling really easy. However, the French railway company SNCF has decided to take it one step ahead with its Weneo ID Smart. The Weneo ID Smart is a user-rechargeable RFID ticket that is enclosed i a USB stick. Users can go ahead connect to their PCs and they would automatically visit SNCF payment page and they could top op their balance.
USB Retro Wireless Microphone Brings back Nostalgia In A Hi-Tech Package
By Vlad | August 31, 2008
Today we are inundated with technological developments and resulting hi-tech gadgets. When we start to think about it, it is in fact funny that we race against one another to get the latest gizmo or gadget. However, all these hi-tech goods, which are designed in a sleek and futuristic manner, make us get saturated with the whole thing. That is when some of start to look back and admire vintage designs and gadgets from yesterday. Here is the USB Retro Wireless Microphone, which may remind you of the swinging sixties or the good old radio star who was killed by the TV.
Urn Retrieval System Solves Problem of Grave Deficiency in Japan
By Rizmyn | August 26, 2008
The question of finding burial space in Japan has almost drove people to their graves (if they could find space to dig one). Buying plots for graves have become more and more expensive and almost an impossibility for the less fortunate. In a land where ancestor worship is an important part of the culture and the mourning process, the need for a material object as a representation of the link between the living and the dead is a near necessity. The latest solution for this problem is the retrieval of urns holding the ashes of loved ones.
Nichiryoku, a Japanese man, has designed an urn retrieval system which allows family members to view the urn of a loved one at a storage facility. All that is required is an RFID card (for identification). The urn will be stored in an underground facility that is so secure that even the bouts of natural disasters that affect Japan constantly would not harm the last remains of loved ones. This solves the problem of space since and the process is also reported to be quite inexpensive. Perhaps the dead, and the living, can enjoy more peace now.
Via: Switched
Ubicycle public bicycle service: Unmanned bike rental kiosks by Continuum
By Andrew | May 30, 2008
Renting out bicycles for public usage is no new thing. But devising a complete automated and unmanned bike rental kiosk like system is definitely a novel idea. Ubicycle public bicycle service, thought by design firm Continuum, the Hundred Dollar Laptop project people the bike rental system definitely comes to fore as a promising one.
These kiosks will be powered by solar panel roofs and RFID-embedded Smart cards to keep a track of users and security purposes. Not just the RFId tags, but also the unique green colour of the bikes will not let thieves fly away or ride freely on these bikes.
The fact that the bikes can be rented with your good old public transportation card makes them all the more convenient to use and access. He kiosks will be available through out the city so that you can drop the bicycle at the point nearest to your destination.
Via: Dvice/ DContinuum
The Lady Bag: Treat for the forgetful minds
By Andrew | March 25, 2008
If you are a loser, you’ll love this! Don’t get offended, I mean if you are used to dropping your wallet or forgetting your cell phone or keys for that matter, we have got a great help for you.
I don’t think I need to tell you its all bout RFID, coz they are fitting the technology into almost anything. So, in the same vein the reference here is to the LadyBag. Designed by designed by six SFU students (all women, after all a woman can empathies with what other woman feels after dropping the wallet ;)), this unique bag is fitted with an RFID reader and a little LED display to blink at you in different ways whenever it doesn’t find your wallet, keys, cell phone or any other belonging inside the bag.
I guess not just this, the technology should be made a must-have for each and every bag…I consider as an object of national need …kidding!
This is not where the LadyBag story ends. To add into the fun element, the Bag is also capable of displaying it’s emotions, thanks to the LEDs. He’ll give you a cute smiley the moment you ‘squeeze’ it, while some fiddling with the ‘zipper’ ad it gets nervous as if thinking of a thief opening the bag. What more? It also displays a warm heart, how? I don’t have any clue, just get hold of the bag and find out yourself.
Via: Talk2myshirt
Loc8tor Lite: No more losing business!
By Andrew | January 26, 2008
I am one of those who people who are on a constant spree to find things, as I keep loosing one or the other things. Christened quite apt, the Loc8tor Lite is a gadget that’s of the size of your credit card, available at your rescue where ever you need and wherever you need.
Loc8tor Lite is a chic thing to find anything that you can lose and found at your home. Right from the keys, TV remotes, mobile phones to the lively ones like your pets and not to forget your car.
Yes, you got that right, it’s the RFID technology that works in the lite that make you find your desired object that’s attached to a small homing tag.
This is how the Loc8tor works: It gives you audio and visual cues from the handheld point in the direction where it scans the missing Tag/object. No matter your keys are stuffed behind that sofa or forgotten in the near by store, Loc8tor will take you to that place with in minutes and even seconds in some cases.
The accuracy can be estimated by the fact that the signals are so strong that you’ll be guided with in a proximity of inch/2.5cm of the lost object, no matter you are indoors or outdoors! All you need to do is follow the direction where you are getting the strongest signal from the handheld…that’s it!
Price: £44.99 (about $88 USD) which comes with 2 tags.
Via: Uberreview
Quickies: ‘Post-it’ notes in their electronic avataar
By Andrew | January 19, 2008
A good news for all those who loved communicating and setting reminders through the hard to ignore ‘Post-it’ ot ‘Sticky’ notes as nowonwards, the good old ‘Post-it’ notes will also be used to send reminders and messages through e-mails or a mobile device as they get converted into their electronic avatar!
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed electronic sticky notes called ‘Quickies’, which is aimed at merging the digital media with the paper world with a view to improvies ’staying organised’.
These can be digitally searched, so even if you forget where you put the Quickie, a keyword search on your computer can easily give you an access to all the Quickie notes that you put on forthat articular keyword, making your work simpler!
Quite similar to the Post-It notes in appearance, Quickies combine artificial intelligence, natural language processing, ink recognition technologies, and RFID tags into a modern version of the reliable analog. When placed inside an electronic pad the handwriting gets converted into a digital form, which is recognised by the Custom software.
So, the next time your boss changes the time of the meeting when you are away, the Quickies will automatically send him/her an instant message regarding the same.
Hmm…seems the electronic-post its will be a great deal of relief to those who are still a bit uncomfortable when it comes to using keyboards and computers.
Via: Discovery
