Using RFID Tags Around the House?

Attacked-by-gremlins writes "I have a larger family and various items in the house (some tools, some pieces of clothing) 'travel' unexpectedly. We joke about gremlins doing that, but it's tiring never to be sure that I'll find an object where I left it two days ago. For the sheer hacking fun of it, I'm thinking of sticking RFID tags on some and trying to triangulate a position with several tranceivers placed in the house. Has anyone have any suggestions for this amateur 'Google Home'? Thanks."

Comments

Why Not?

[FurtiveGlancer]

Beats the heck out of everyone learning to be considerate of each others' property. What benefit would that have in real life? ~

Re:Why Not?

[lisaparratt]

Yeah, can't have the kids finding the gimp locked in the "office".

Re:Why Not?

[RanCossack]

I agree, as far as introducing kids to open source software goes, the Gimp is probably a bad choice. Something simpler -- maybe tux paint -- would be best.

Now, where dd I put that RFID scanner?

[MessyBlob]

Now, where dd I put that RFID scanner?

Re:Now, where dd I put that RFID scanner?

[eln]

Well obviously you'd put an RFID chip on the scanner as well. Christ, do I have to think of everything around here?

Re:Now, where dd I put that RFID scanner?

[jblake]

Me too!

Serious suggestion (don't use RFID)

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Buy two hammers separately. Make sure they are identical. Make sure you also have two receipts.

Next time someone misplaces your stuff, use one hammer to break their hand. If the skin breaks and blood gets on the hammer, throw it in your neighbor's yard and find a way to plant the receipt over there.

When the police come to find you, explain that you found your spouse, kid, dog, whatever in a crazed state with broken fingers. They must be hallucinating because they are blaming you. Hey, look at that! Maybe your neighbor just went inside, and, oh my god, there's a bloody hammer right next to his birdbath! Well, case closed, officer.

You'll never have anything misplaced again.

Use the other hammer to beat a dead horse

[beegle]

It seems like only one hammer is needed for you scenario.

So, what's the second hammer for? A redundant array of independent hammers?

Re:Use the other hammer to beat a dead horse

[bugnuts]

So, what's the second hammer for? A redundant array of independent hammers? No, it's so that everyone knows you still have a hammer, and you're not afraid to use it.

The RFIDHouse

[CopaceticOpus]

For this to be really useful, I think you need an RFID tag on every item in the home. First, construct a new home with a single entry point (you can add emergency exits for fire safety.) The front entry room will contain a computer and an RFID tagging device. Every single object that comes through the door gets tagged, named, photographed, and described in the computer system before it is allowed into the house.

It's a little work upfront, but think of the advantages. No time wasted organizing your possessions. No time wasted "tidying up." Nothing can ever be out of place, because nothing BELONGS anywhere. The mixing bowl might not be in the kitchen, but it's no trouble. Just search for it using any of the dozens of wall terminals installed around the house, and a series of flashing arrows will direct you right to your desired object.

Re:Garage Sale

[wampus]

Good for you, I'd offer you a cookie, but you apparently have no facility to eliminate waste from your body.

Re:TOP SECRET FACT:Most cars tracking RFID ALREADY

[zienth]

So now we need to wrap tinfoil around our tires?

Re:To do it effectively won't be cheap....

[mcmonkey]

Don't be put off by the nay-sayers. It's actually not too hard and not too expensive.

I've been playing with RFID for about 5 years, and it's great for remote controls, tape measures, and other easy to misplace items.

I also managed to get it to work with the Collectorz software, so I can 'check out' a book or movie.

The hand-held reader I have is powerful enough so that I can stand in middle of a small room (approx. 10' x 10') and get a reading if the item I'm looking for is in the room. Handy for finding stuff. It was around $200, and that was a year ago.

I'd post the make and model number of the reader, but I haven't been able to find it for a couple days. I probably should have tagged it.

Ah, yes, I remember that Blessed State

[jeko]

Once upon a time, I too was single. When I put things down, they remained there until I picked them up again.

Then I got married, and the sudden Alzheimer's onset began. Things... Things began to move. It began small, tv remotes, car keys and the like. Soon it extended out to clothing, kitchen appliances. And then things began to just -- I'M NOT CRAZY DAMMIT! STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT! -- things began to DISAPPEAR. Treasured old jeans, t-shirts I'd had since high school, important tax receipts from 1992, they all began to just go away with no explanation.

Then the poltergeists came, and my wife insisted on calling them children. I fiercely hold my TV remote in my hand, knowing that if I loosen my grip on it it will fly across the room. Change on the desktop, shiny hand tools, anything that beeps, whistles or lights up, DVDs of any stripe, anything less than 60 lbs of dead weight can fly away in a heartbeat.

But I'm safe now, here in my closet. I got my favorite Leatherman, my surefire flashlight, my solid brass Zippo lighter and MY TV REMOTE DAMMIT and I am NOT LETTING GO OF THEM! NOT LETTING GO!

And I am not opening the door. They're MINE, YA HEAR ME? MINE!!!!!!