 |
Home > News > Development of a sample-based simple data entry system, Tangible-RFID
-- To search commodities to meet one's need by placing the samples of shape, color and material on the reader unit --
|
|
|
|
| 2007.02.15 |
|
Development of a sample-based simple data entry system, Tangible-RFID
-- To search commodities to meet one's need by placing the samples of shape, color and material on the reader unit --
NTT Comware Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuhji Imai; below, NTT Comware) developed a simple perceptive data input interface using Tangible Technologies (*1), named Tangible RFID.
With Tangible-RFID, the only thing to do is to place a sample (e.g. prototype or plate with RFID tag attached to represent the searching conditions) on the reader.
|
 |
[Background]
Currently, there are many opportunities of data entry in the society from keyboard to personal computers, to bank ATMs and the data terminals in retail shops. The users are in a wide range from young children to the elderly.
However, data searching was not user-friendly enough because each system has a different operation process, search window and menu. As the process was sometimes completed until the target is hit, an easy-navigation system was desired.
[Examples of Tangible-RFID]
Tangible-RFID enables a simple data entry only by placing a sample which contains the information in need by the users.
For instance, in order to find a pair of "black leather pumps" in a Tangible-RFID based women shoes searching system, the user places the small sample representing "pumps", as well as the plates of "black" and "leather" on the table-shaped RFID reader. The reader would then scan the information from RFID tags attached to the sample and plates to show the shoes according to the requirements on the monitor screen. For changing the material of the shoes requested, the user only change the plate from "leather" to "patent" so that the system restarts searching for "black patent pumps", and the result is shown on the screen.
In addition, more detailed information such as the shape of the product can be provided in combination of NTT Comware's Tangible BPA technology. It allows the users to see the rotating 3-D images of the shoes on the screen to choose a favorite one. It is an experience to see as if the actual shoes are in front of the user.
Accordingly, the Tangible-RFID based searching system enables a perceptive searching as the sample represents the image of items so that the users need no specific knowledge about the name of shape or materials, or the texture of materials.
This interface facilitates data searching only by a single process to place a thing on the board, not data entry from a touch panel or keyboard.
[Future Scenario]
Tangible-RFID is a perceptive and user-friendly interface, which can be used not only for data searching and recommendation of the existing items in department stores but also assistance of coordination of custom-made products in the future. The interface may also be combined with 3-D imaging technology aiming to be a shop sales assistance tool of various areas including the search for custom-made house for real estate companies and the coordination assistance of automobile exterior and interior for car dealers.
[Terminology]
| *1 |
Tangible Technology
Tangible means "substantial" and "perceptive". The next generation user interface proposed by Professor Ishii of MIT Media Laboratory, to create a new interactive environment for computers and human with a brand new operation systems. NTT Comware's collaboration with Professor Ishii based on the basic concept of Tangible includes the network design tool (Tangible IP Network Designer), the business process analysis tool (Tangible Business Process Analyzer), the tangible simulator of disasters and so on.
Tangible User Interface includes the perceptive media to use with a touch of hands or other human senses to make the digital information have substantiality. Tangible RFID employs the former media, which sends data obtained from whatever visible or felt with a touch or hands.
|
|
|
|
The information shown in this page is the latest as of the day of the release. It is subject to change without further notice. Thank you for your kind understanding and consideration.
|
|
|
