HP's Memory Spot Chip

Iddo Genuth writes, "HP Labs recently revealed a prototype of the Memory Spot Chip, a tiny wireless chip capable of storing and transmitting data. When it hits the market in about 2-3 years, the new chip will enable a variety of applications ranging from digital wristbands that store patient medical information to sound bytes on paper or printed pictures that can be accessed using a reader-equipped device. The article has an interview with Howard Taub of HP Labs and some photos of the prototype chip." The chip can only be read at a distance of 1 mm, so it avoids many of the privacy concerns of RFID. It has about 1000 times the storage capacity and 100-1000 times the data transfer rate of RFID.

Comments

No thanks

[LiquidCoooled]

I can only see 1 metre without my glasses,
But shockingly if I get a device to FOCUS the light I can see much further.

Do they make tiny pringles cans?

If so close, then why even wireless?

[businessnerd]

The chip can only be read at a distance of 1 mm, so it avoids many of the privacy concerns of RFID.

If they are going to make it so that you have to be 1mm away to read the signal, then why not just make a contact point and do away with the wireless function all together. This would truly avoid the privacy concerns and would function just the same. What's 1 more milimeter of distance anyway?

It seems everything these days needs to be wireless in order to be considered a hot new item. This is like making a "contactless pen." Instead of having to press the pen against the paper to write, you can hover the pen less than 1mm away from the paper.

Re:If so close, then why even wireless?

[mcfuddlerucker]

>> This is like making a "contactless pen."

Kindly stop hoarding this technology to yourself, and let me know where I can purchase this device.

Re:If so close, then why even wireless?

[le0p]

Just a thought, maybe it's because contacts get dirty, scratched, corroded, and stop working? With extrememly close wireless, you achieve a "contact" point without the maintenance issues. You could be right that it's purely a hype creator, but it seems like there might be some merit to me.