Intangible Interactions Blog

Final proposal idea: rebuilding the Tower of Babel - 04.03.2023

1. First, two people who are about to engage in a conversation provide a set of 3-5 adjustives they identify with and that describe them (potentially using fridge magnets and computer vision).

2. Then one person (the speaker) is prompted to say something to the other person (the listener) to get to know them, in the language they are most comfortable with. The listener does not directly hear the speakers voice.

3. The speaker’s voice is recorded --> language is detected, and the speech is translated to text --> text is translated into English using Google Translate API --> the phrase is reformatted using ChatGPT API to be more suitable for the listener’s self-identification --> the new text is translated into the listener’s language using Google Translate API

4. The new tailored and reformatted text is read out to the listener by a digitally generated voice, while the speaker and listener look at each other.

Creating a custom API: Arduino to TD wirelessly - 28.03.2023

---

app.post('/adddata', (req, res) => {
 const { sensorCount, sensorValue } = req.body;
 if (sensorCount && sensorValue) {
 data.push({ sensorCount, sensorValue });
 res.json({ ok: true, data });
 }
 })

---

app.get('/getdata', (_, res) => {
 res.json({ ok: true, data})
});

---

app.get('/data/:sensorCount', (req, res) => {
 const { sensorCount } = req.params;
 const count = data.filter((count) => count.sensorCount === sensorCount)[0];
 res.json({ ok: true, count})
 });

Assignment 2 - 07.02.2023

• Robotics application for scene understanding (room mapping and obstacle detection)
• Wide FoV and multizone scanning allows content management (load in trucks, tanks, waste bins)
• Gesture recognition
• Liquid level control
• Keystone correction for video projectors
• Laser assisted autofocus (LAF). Enhances the camera AF system speed and robustness, especially in difficult low light or low contrast scenes.
• Smart buildings and smart lighting (user detection to wake up devices)
• Use and object detection
• Video focus tracking: 60 Hz ranging allows optimization of continuous focus algorithm

Assignment 1 - 31.01.2023

- Enter the number of items. Confirm or try again

- If you get this error message: “Seek assistance from a sales 

associate”, the employee will do the staff login. They will 

remove the ink tags

- Since entering the numbers of products is not one of the steps, people tend to remove everything from the basket and start counting before proceeding with the checkout. This leads to a longer buying experience.

- When you get an error message, you have to wait for the sales associate to come by your self checkout machine and separate products with the ink tags. Then, they will bring those products to the other counter to remove the tags. Once they’re done, they’ll place those items in the basket and login with their staff ids. Now, you can proceed. If you’re going to wait for the ink tags to be removed, you might as well go to the other checkout counter. (not the self checkout). This also leads to a longer buying experience.

• Race Timing
• Supply Chain Management
• Inventory tracking (track and record an asset’s entire life cycle)
• Tracking: IT assets, laundry & textile, file, tools, jewelry, retail, etc.
• Event & Attendee Tracking
• Access Control and Fobs
• Vehicle Tracking
• Tolling
• Hospital Infant Tracking
• Animal Tracking
• Library Materials Tracking
• Real-Time Location Systems

• Does not require line-of-sight for scanning that barcode tracking systems use, making RFID a much faster and simpler tracking process.
• Hundreds of tags can be read in seconds
• RFID tax can be very  durable.
• RFID tags can hold more data than other types of tags or labels
• Read range for an RFID  system can be controlled as needed from 0-150 meters
• Tags could be encrypted or locked for security tag
• Memory can be rewritten and reused  

System components

Image source: https://www.shopify.com/in/retail/rfid-technology

1. RFID tag: comprised of two parts – an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals, and an RFID chip (or integrated circuit) which stores information like ID number. 

There are three main categories of RFID tags: passive, semi-passive, and active. These categories refer to how the RFID tags transmit data, and how close you have to be to pick up their signals.

Active tags use a built-in battery and onboard transmitter to send out intermittent electromagnetic signals. These typically have the largest read range and are the best choice for things like real-time tracking.

Passive tags send or ‘reflect' back a signal that an RFID reader initially sends to them. These tags do not have a battery. Instead, they receive energy from the radio waves generated by the reader. When the tag receives the transmission from the reader/antenna, the energy runs through the internal antenna to the tag’s chip. The energy activates the chip, which modulates the energy with the desired information, and then transmits a signal back toward the antenna/reader. Passive tags have a limited distance range and they are one of the better options for things that are stored for extended periods of time.

Semi-Passive tags have a battery, so have the power reserves for additional features, but no onboard transmitter. They are a good option if you need additional features in your tracking infrastructure, such as environmental monitoring. The range is still limited when compared to an active tag.

02. RFID reader (also known as interrogators):  devices that transmit and receive radio waves in order to communicate with RFID tags. RFID readers are typically divided into two distinct types – fixed and mobile RFID readers. These also require power.

03. RFID antenna: convert the RFID reader’s signal into radio waves that can be picked up by RFID tags. Without some type of RFID antenna, whether integrated or standalone, the RFID reader cannot properly send and receive signals to RFID tags.RFID antennas receive their power directly from the reader.

04. Computer database: receives , processes and stores data from the RFID reader.