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New Technique Turns Random Objects Into FM Radio Stations (thestack.com)
"A new technology is enabling everyday objects, such as posters and clothing, to be transformed into FM radio stations," reports The Stack, citing research from the University of Washington. An anonymous reader quotes their report.
The team has introduced a technique called "backscattering" which uses ambient low-power radio signals to broadcast messages from random objects to smartphones in the local vicinity.The researchers hope that the development could help support various smart city applications, and picture a future where anything from a poster at a bus stop to a road sign can transmit audio updates and information to passers-by.
During testing, the researchers were able to use the backscattering technique to create a "singing poster" which could send out the music of an advertised band to smartphone users at a distance of up to 4 meters and to cars in an 18-meter [59-foot] radius. "What we want to do is enable smart cities and fabrics where everyday objects in outdoor environments -- whether it's posters or street signs or even the shirt you're wearing -- can 'talk' to you by sending information to your phone or car," explained lead faculty and UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering Shyam Gollakota.
During testing, the researchers were able to use the backscattering technique to create a "singing poster" which could send out the music of an advertised band to smartphone users at a distance of up to 4 meters and to cars in an 18-meter [59-foot] radius. "What we want to do is enable smart cities and fabrics where everyday objects in outdoor environments -- whether it's posters or street signs or even the shirt you're wearing -- can 'talk' to you by sending information to your phone or car," explained lead faculty and UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering Shyam Gollakota.
even more pervasive advertising!!
"I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
"What we want to do is enable smart cities and fabrics where everyday objects in outdoor environments -- whether it's posters or street signs or even the shirt you're wearing -- can 'talk' to you by sending information to your phone or car,"
Wow, it can broadcast a massive 60 ft, unless you're crawling in traffic that'll be less than 2 seconds. You won't get anything meaningful to your audience in that time, you'll just piss them off with the interference.
This is yet another solution looking for a problem to solve, we're already bombarded by better, more effective advertising than this.
Yucko. This is sorta like being constantly accosted by street beggers. No peace. Really, just because advertisers want desperately to talk, why would anyone listen? Have they learned nothing from Netflix or Amazon? Or the slow and painful demise of broadcast TV? Shudder.... Just because we can doesn't mean we should.
The "singing poster" only works because there's a large copper foil antenna stuck behind it. So, instead of saying that random objects can be turned into FM stations, it would be more accurate to say that you can use suitably big objects to hide a huge ass antenna.