5 Wireless Tech Inventions That Don’t Exist Yet
With all the latest wireless technologies (RFID, Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi) available these days, it’s interesting to imagine how they might be combined into new applications with consumer electronics to create hybrid uses. Some of the ideas in the list below are serious, some just for fun. It’s not so much the wireless technology nor the consumer electronics in use that is new but the application and hybrid methodology. (If you’re sure that some of these applications exist, drop a comment.)
1. Wi-Fi + RFID skateboard. Parents that are tired of calling their kids in for supper can send a text message to this skateboard: supper’s ready. If your kid doesn’t come home in a few minutes, use the RFID tech in your handheld reader to locate them. (One company is already using RFID to track golf balls.) GPS is not necessary, unless your child is prone to going outside of 10-30 metres (33-100 feet). You could go one step further and set up a Wi-Fi speaker that plays a gentle, non-startling tone if your child drags his/her heels. The tone means that they have minutes before a servo-mechanism locks the wheels of the skateboard. You can then watch their return progress on a computer monitor using RFID or Wi-Fi based triangulation. (Or GPS for longer ranges.)
2. Office doorway monitoring system. An access monitoring system that adds an entry to an RSS/ Atom web feed whenever someone enters an RFID-enabled doorway using their smart passcard. The security person live-monitoring the feed on location on a computer screen would see a default picture of that person. If the default pic does not match the appearance of the person on a video monitor, entry would not be granted. [There are systems that use more sophisticated means using biometrics, but they are costly.] The web feed would be published on the Internet but be password-protected. It could then be accessed by authorized company employees from remote locations for whatever reason. (Use your imagination.)!
3. An SED Wi-Fi digital camera that auto-posts pictures to an online gallery, along with voice comments. These would be a boon to photobloggers that don’t want to waste time monkeying with a blogging platform and podcasting software. The photog would preview a pic, then press a button to publish live. Of course, the execution of this method either requires that the camera is enabled with a Wi-Fi cellular plan, or near a smart PDA with Wi-Fi, or has Bluetooth and is near a laptop with Internet access. So in the worst case, the photog records audio comments for each snapshot and stores everything on a memory card. Then, when they are able to connect to the Internet, they can auto-publish approved pics and audio. Voila, an audio-photo podcast. (Note: Wi-Fi cameras that can upload to a laptop or desktop computer are either already out at the time of this writing, or will be out soon. However, none of them connect directly to the Internet. Hence, the SED – Service-Enabled Device – designation.)
4. Internet-enabled iPods and iVods. These, like the camera above, are SEDs. Imagine being able to directly download audio or video content from the Internet without having to go through a laptop or desktop computer.
5. RFID-enabled VIP passcards for nightclubs. No more waiting in the cold night, shivering. Just smile and wave the RFID passcard, and you’re in. Get yourself access to special cubbyholes and get to know that special someone a bit better. Automatic frequent partyer points, anyone? Similar smart passcards might be useful for box seats at a sporting event, opera, or play. Add SED capability to a special home-based reader device, and you can purchase tickets easily. Bye bye scalpers.
Got anymore ideas? Devices you’d like to see? Or not see?
Tags: unwired, wireless tech, RFID, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, digital camera, biometrics, SED, ipod, ivod
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HAHAH, as a skater, I must say the “wi-fi skateboard” is certainly one of the most idiotic ideas I have ever heard of in my life. I don’t even see this idea even being “just for fun” category because it’s so inconceivable and stupid.. maybe for a bike or something. But is that just not new and X-TREME and trendy enough? Has the brilliant mind who developed this idea ever seen anyone skateboard in his/her life? Skateboards get trashed, quickly. A SPEAKER? There is no surface on a board that doesn’t get grinded on or stomped on, where exactly would this device go? Into the wood maybe to compromise the durability of the deck? Also, I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have seen someone get frustrated and toss their board into the ground. And “Lock the wheels” — wtf?
Most of all though, what kind of kid is going to go into the brutal environment of a skatepark and let their board play a melody because mommy wants them home for dinner? You have any idea how many “accidents” the gear on this board would have and how easy an excuse would be to why it didnt work past the first time mom tracked you down?
Parents don’t even like having to spend $100 to buy their kids a complete to trash, let alone whatever it would cost for this bull$$$hit idea.
If you found this information useful, please [SLAP YOURSELF IN THE FACE]. F- a donation.
Ikean, I am a skater, or was. I started in 1976, and stopped after ripping a knee (in a fight, not skating). At any rate, you’re taking this far too seriously. It was “for fun”, and really only intended for young skater wannabes, not serious punk-ass mouthy skaters like yourself. In fact, it was actually a joke, as I know how much taking a 30-foot spill down a rough hillside hurts when wheels lock up.
By the way, the donation button is not mine. Thanks for getting the joke.
Hahah. I give you credit for not deleting the post, and for your reply. I may not like your bright ideas but I sure like your style.
Heh. No chance I’d delete the post, as your response was actually well written and relevant :) And I expect people to disagree. (What I didn’t let on was that I was trying to imagine what the “bright” minds who are coming up with future wireless-based applications are trying to think up. I mean, what REAL skater in their right mind would use such a thing, right?)
About the RFID-enabled passes for nightclubs, I saw a more extreme version of this, already being practised in the Baya Beach Club Rotterdamm, The Netherlands. There, ‘VIP’ guests can opt for a RFID implant in their arm to enter the club, pay their drinks and have their toilet visits tracked.
See for example:
http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/008671.php
Yeah, that’s insane. A few clubs are doing it, especially when regular attire is swimming clothes. No place for id or a wallet. It’s not surprising that younger people are the only ones doing this.