Boing Boing: Smarter Schmoozing: nTag intelligent name badges

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

Smarter Schmoozing: nTag intelligent name badges

A company called nTag has developed smart plastic name badges capable of storing, displaying, and exchanging personal information about the wearer. The idea: intelligent networking that goes beyond "hello my name is" to "here are a few of my favorite memes." According to an ex-Xerox PARC friend, this isn't the first time that idea has been explored -- PARC had a similar project some years ago. But it seems to be a thoroughly-conceived commercial application. ABC News story snip:

"Inside the nTags are basic computer essentials, including 128 kilobytes of memory, a two-line display and wireless communications technology. The tags can store and display simple information -- the name and business affiliation of the wearer, for example -- that would be required at most common business conferences or other public gatherings. (...) When two attendees come within 3 to 5 feet and their nTags are facing each other, information is shared between the tags, using invisible infra-red beams of light. George Eberstadt, an nTag company co-founder, says the system uses advanced software to figure out what information to show on the tags' displays. And the algorithms aren't looking for just 'matching' information, but for topics that would hopefully 'break the ice' and generate social interaction."

Any ideas for creative, alternative, social-hacking uses? Discuss them here. Link to ABC News story, Link to nTag website, (Thanks to Steve Lassovszky, who rules.)

posted by Xeni Jardin at 10:19:27 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

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