ThinkGeek: So you are probably wondering if a rabbit can really be "smart"? Well this bunny can teach you tai chi, read your e-mail, report the weather or stock market, pull RSS feeds and tell you the time. We'd say that's pretty smart - but he's also got personality. Nabaztag can move his ears, play music, talk and whistle, and his body can show off hundreds of colors and special patterns of light. Sometimes he will even have his own random things to say, as long as you can put up with his moods!

Okay, so Nabaztag is smart and has personality - but what about interpersonal skills? Can he relate well to you and other rabbits? Well, Nabaztag can marry another rabbit - that's right - copying the other rabbit's movements, sounds and lights. Move your Nabaztag's ears and its spouse's will too. And as far as friendship, Nabaztag can let you know when you have a new e-mail, read you today's headlines or give you his opinion of the previous week. But be careful because he is uncompromising - if he thinks that he didn't receive enough messages he might be unhappy.

This bunny likes to nibble on WiFi [ThinkGeek]

Reuters: JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Thursday introduced a credit card that allows a consumer to merely wave it past a sensor to make payments, a function already common at many U.S. gas stations.

A top issuer of credit cards in the United States, JPMorgan Chase said its new credit card, called "blink," will be marketed this summer and can be used in movie theaters, convenience stores, specialty shops and drug stores.

Sheetz Inc., an East Coast convenience store chain, will be JPMorgan Chase's first partner to launch a co-branded credit card with the contactless feature.

Another early adopter of the new card is convenience store chain 7-Eleven which will test the card in 170 of its stores and eventually will accept it at its 5,700 stores.

"It is a real time-saver for the consumer, and for merchants it is an opportunity to move more people through the line more quickly," Tom O'Donnell, senior vice president of Chase card services.

JP Morgan launches 'contactless' credit card [Reuters]

RFID in Japan: A Tokyo-based company TechFirm is launching a service that connects consumers and small retailers using RFID. Consumers having RFID-chipped phones can "bookmark" their "favorite" stores by showing their phones to RFID readers installed in stores. Information about a "bookmarked" store is automatically transmitted to a mobile phone. Consumers can access information about all "bookmarked" stores using dedicated mobile application software.

On one hand, this service allows consumers to easily manage and access information about their favorite stores "anywhere at anytime" using mobile phones. On the other hand, stores can collect lists of people who may be interested in them and use the lists to send bargain information etc.

"Bookmark" this store right here [RFID in Japan]

ITWorld: Efforts to introduce electronic-ticketing systems in Germany's huge mass transit sector have moved forward with the successful testing of a smart card system that combines RFID (radio frequency identification).

T-Systems International GmbH, the IT services and infrastructure arm of German telco Deutsche Telekom AG, has developed an e-ticketing system in collaboration with the German Mass Transit Authority (VDV), which represents hundreds of regional bus and train companies in the country, said Frankfurt-based T-Systems in a statement on Thursday.

The system consists of several components: the so-called "VDV core application," a semiconductor-based smart card equipped with a miniature antenna, RFID technology for retrieving data from the cards over the airwaves and sensor-based card readers.

The technology allows passengers to pass by a card reader without having to swipe or insert their cards into the device.

RFID hooks ride on German mass transit [ITWorld]

Mobile Digest: Orange tells us that its 3G Mobile Office card is being put to unusual use by scientists in the UK. Researchers over here are using the cards to let them access and control one of the largest fully robotic telescopes in the world based over in Hawaii. They can access the internet from their laptops to connect to the Faulkes Telescope, allowing them to check out and download images received from the star gazer wherever they may be. Great PR story for Orange, and one that certainly sparked our interest.

3G to help stargazers [Mobile Digest]

WebWire: Patient safety will drive the use of the next generation of active-RFID (radio frequency identification) location tags from Radianse, Inc., an innovator of indoor positioning solutions (IPS) used to locate and associate equipment and people in hospitals.

Radianse will show the industry’s first single-use active-RFID tag for patient location at the 2005 HIMSS Conference and Exposition (Booth 6655) February 14-17 in Dallas, Texas.

The wristwatch-sized device is one-eighth the price of the average competitive tags marketed for patient location. It’s designed to maximize comfort, safety and convenience across a patient’s length of stay. It can even be worn safely in the shower. The Radianse single-use tag can be slipped onto a patient’s ID wrist band. Or a hospital can choose to print patient ID information on Radianse tamper-resistant wrist bands using existing printers.

The tag has a button that can be programmed based on the patient’s location. In the PACU, for example, a button push might signal the patient is ready for transport.

Patient location applications shown to improve safety and satisfaction.

Press Release

RFID in Japan: Bandai announced a new toy doll for kids that responds to RFID'd objects.

The toy doll, which is called Naoru-kun, acts almost like a robot: it speaks 150 different phrases including "Let's play!" and "I..am...er....." and responds when it's shaken hands, hugged, petted, etc. But, the most impressive feature is its ability to get sick.

So, it needs to be taken care of by owners. The concept is somewhat similar to Tamagocchi's, I think. The company says this toy would foster caring mentality in kids' minds.

How does it get sick? While playing, Naoru-kun starts coughing and sneezing. According to symptoms, kids must use one of the items including "syringe," "candy" and "medicine." The doll reads RFID tags embedded in these items and responds accordingly.

Dolls That Get Sick, Curable By RFID [RFID in Japan]

RFID in Japan: "Oribie Navi Land" is a GPS school bag for tracking kids. Japanese school bag manufacturer Kyowa and security systems and services company Secom are collaborating to release this product+service package this November.

Secom's GPS tracking device is called "KoKo Secom Communication Terminal" and attached to a side of a school bag to send realtime location information to Secom's server computer. The device is like a GPS-chipped cell phone except that one cannot talk with this device.

Parents can check their child's whereabouts by either making a phone call to Secom's service center or accessing a website using a PC or a smart phone. Parents can ask Secom's security agents to go rescue their children in case of possible emergency.

GPS School Bags [RFID in Japan]

BusinessWeek: ProfitLogic's software is already at work in Gap and Target stores, and President Scott Friend sees many more retailers following suit.

The transformative technology that entails tagging merchandise with radio frequency computer chips (RFID) is on the horizon. But ask anyone at the 2005 annual convention of the National Retail Foundation (NRF) and it's clear that most of the industry's players see plenty of smaller fish to fry before undertaking something as massive as the adoption of RFID.

Scanning the Future of RFID [BusinessWeek]

Gizmodo: The PetsMobility PetCell is only a concept for now, but the patent-pending collar could be great—if you don't mind spending a lot of extra cash on your pets. The idea is simple: it's a cell phone and GPS unit on a collar, with its own private number. Using caller ID, it automatically picks up when an approved number calls, allowing you to speak to your dog or cat (but probably dog) from wherever you are. And with the GPS service enabled, you'll even be able to yell at them when they've wandered too far from home.

No word on an actual shipping product yet (their first announcement at all was in September), but it looks like something that could be surprisingly fun and useful for people who will spend any amount of money on their pooch.

PetsMobility PetCell [Gizmodo]

wirelessIQ.info: Motorola, Inc. and Oakley, Inc. today announced a joint venture to introduce new Bluetooth(TM)-enabled wearable wireless communications devices for innovative hands-free operation of electronic devices.

Motorola is collaborating with Oakley — a leader in eyewear design, technology and innovation — to fuse Motorola's latest Bluetooth technology with Oakley's advanced eyewear concepts. Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications company. Details and designs are set to be unveiled by mid-2005.

"By teaming with Motorola, we're dramatically expanding the possibilities for our new electronics category," said Cos Lykos, Vice President of Business Development. "Oakley's engineering team now has an expanded technology arsenal to develop new and innovative electronic products."

Motorola and Oakley Form Joint Venture [wirelessIQ.info]

RFID in Japan: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation developed a technology that combines RFID tags and cameras for controlling elevators. With their technology, elevators don't make people wait for them. Instead, they wait for people.

By combining RFID and image processing, they claim that their system could tell if a person wanted to use an elevator or was just waking near an elevator (without any intention to use an elevator.)

This technology seems to have many useful applications -- Handicapped people and the elderly may be able to get on an elevator without the trouble of pushing buttons. Also, in an office building, employees could move back to their "home floors" without selecting a floor number everytime. Moreover, tags can be used to prevent unauthorized persons from getting on an elevator.

Some technical challenges still remain. The company wants to commercialize the technology in 5 years.

via Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun, December 22, 2004, in Japanese.

Elevators Get Smart [RFID In Japan]

JapanToday: Vodafone KK President Shiro Tsuda said Wednesday the Japanese unit of British cell phone service company Vodafone Group PLC will encourage its customers to shift to third-generation handsets for faster data communications. "Vodafone will offer its last 2G handset next year and no more 2G later," Tsuda said.

Vodafone has lagged rivals NTT DoCoMo Inc and KDDI Corp in shifting to 3G handsets. Of some 15 million Vodafone customers, only about 300,000 are 3G handset users. By discontinuing the provision of new 2G handsets next year, Vodafone will encourage customers to shift to the 3G handsets and will concentrate business resources on 3G services, Tsuda said. (Kyodo News)

Vodafone To Encourage Customers To Shift To 3G Handsets [JapanToday]

Mobile Digest: If you're looking to buy a 3G phone this Christmas, Which? would advise you otherwise. The company has pronounced 3G not suitable for human consumption since there are too many problems with network coverage. The bulkiness of 3G handsets was also given as a reason to ignore 3G and stick to smaller, more reliable 2G handsets.

Thing is, it doesn't sound like they've tested any of the newer 3G handsets, which are far smaller. Considering the extra stuff they can do, we've been more than happy to carry round handsets like the Sony Ericsson V800, the LG U8120 and the Nokia 6630. Our experience of the 3G networks in recent months has been really good, with both 3 and Vodafone providing reliable service. Granted, we all live in London, which makes things a lot easier, and if you live in the deepest darkest countryside you might have trouble making video calls. But if you're a city dweller and you want a 3G phone for Christmas, don't let Which? put you off. One thing to bear in mind, though, is that the tariffs and phone prices will inevitably go down in the new year. We also don't really rate the phones they do reccomend. There's no mention of the Nokia 7610, the Orange SPV-C500 or Motorola RAZR V3 handsets - in our book the best trio out there.

Why Which? is wrong about 3G [Mobile Digest]

Infoworld: The wireless airwaves may get a bit more crowded next year following the announcement that Intellisync's goAnywhere technology, unveiled this week, will give users of low-cost feature phones the same push e-mail capability that is now only available on pricier smart phones.

The goAnywhere solution requires no additional software on the handset, needing only SyncML, an industry standard for data synchronization already included in millions of phones.

In addition to push e-mail, the carrier-based solution will give users PIM synchronization, device management, and secure file access.

Intellisync to give push e-mail capability for low-cost phones [InfoWorld]

Influx Insights ponders the future of wireless technology:

For a long time the new wireless revolution has been a false promise, but recent developments suggest the category is poised to enter the second stage of its evolution. Advances in networks, hardware and software are converging to redefine the idea of mobile communication, to include: information, entertainment and commerce.

Read: A Future for Wireless [Influx Insights]

Thanks to the implementation of RFID technology, parents can have great fun with their children in Legoland without worrying about losing them in the vast park.

The Legoland amusement park in Denmark is implementing a new child-tracking system that combines radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and Wi-Fi technology which allows staff to be able to locate a child who got separated from the parents. How does this work? Basically, parents with SMS-enabled cell phones can rent wireless-enabled wristbands for their kids from the staff. This reveals the location of children should they become separated. There are many Wi-Fi access points and location receivers scattered throughout the amusement park to pick up Wi-Fi messages from the wristbands.

This is a smart move, really. At amusement parks, parents want to let their children have fun. Yet, at the same time, they're concerned about their safety. Implementing such a wireless tracking system can only alleviate their fears and make the park a great place for the family to enjoy themselves. This's a great strategy worth copying!

Read:
Legoland Tags Kids for Safety [CIO.com]
Legoland Builds Safety System for Kids [Network IT Week]
RFID Chips On Kids Makes Legoland Safer [Silicon.com]

The magic of Star Trek "com badges" has come to life! Wearing a Vocera badge, people can touch the slim device they wear on their uniforms, identify who they want to talk to and start talking immediately as they did on the TV show.

The Vocera Communications Badge, made by Silicon Valley-based Vocera Communications, contains a digital signal processor chip and a Wi-Fi radio. The former handles all the voice processing and the latter transmits them to a computer network.

How then, does this communication system work? The badge is actually controlled using natural speech. To initiate a conversation with Jim, for example, the user would simply say, "Conference Jim." This triggers a powerful server-based application that matches the name spoken with a database entry. It then locates Jim on the network, activates their badges and initiates the conversation, which takes place using Voice-Over-Internet Protocol or VOIP. In addition, when a live conversation is unnecessary, text messages and alerts can be sent to the LCD screen on the back of the Vocera Communications Badge (Source: Forbes).

Hospitals and medical centers are big fans of the Vocera Communications System. It reduces some of the chaos and streamlines communication in such facilities. Healthcare workers spend an enormous amount of time trying to page, call or e-mail each other for very simple but often critical communications. This communicator significantly reduces the amount of time the doctors spend trying to get things done. And that means more lives can be saved!

Let's Get Down To Business...

Communications systems and devices should be designed to increase business productivity, teamwork, and customer service levels. A system that enables efficient, instant voice conversations among team members, across groups, and throughout an organization of mobile professionals is highly valued. Efficiency is a very powerful tool in helping any business organization cut its costs. Bear that in mind!

Related Ideas & Trends
Vocera Communications Product Page
Your Trekkie Communicator Is Ready [Forbes]
Hands-free, voice-activated communication system being tested at UC Davis Medical Center [UCDavis Update]
Eat It Ripe and Right

Owners of a USA vineyard are now using Wi-Fi technology to more carefully monitor growing conditions at their site.

California-based Accenture Technology Labs installed 40 wireless units on existing trellising posts around the 30-acre vineyard and fitted them with sensors to measure microclimate data such as soil, air temperature, moisture content, and leaf wetness. The data is sent from sensor to sensor, forming a Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET), which requires less power and equipment than networks using wires or radio transmitters.

Real-time conditions in the vineyard can then be monitored on a secured Web site. The information can help vineyard managers make decisions about when, where and how much to water vines or spray to control mildew. Also, vineyard managers can have the wireless system alert them if something is amiss, such as frost or oversaturated soil.

Although the technology has been tested only for a few months, the initial results are positive. Accenture is developing plans to test the technology in larger vineyards. Certainly, wireless technology can be applied to any industry anywhere.

Read: Wi-Fi Hits the Vineyard [Wine Spectator]