I finally have had some success with screen printing conductive ink or my own concoction. The image is a picture of a mixed media experiment with screen printed graphite based conductive ink and copper tape for power and light source. The form of the line printed in the conductive ink is the shape of a book spine based RFid. The RFid market is one of the largest outcomes of printed circuitry but the implications of “big brother” tools leaves the novice and consumer out of the loop. My experimentation into conductive inks has not been rooted in invention but rather in the exploration space and thinking that I have now started to give paper. The question of networked, self aware and linked paper artifacts could be a possibility through RFid or other circuitry based functionality. My ability to get a screen printed line to be reactive to electricity has helped my pursuit into thinking about paper in a new and unique ways. The ability to make paper an interface is now a distinct possibility.
Touch is a research project that investigates Near Field Communication (NFC), a technology that enables connections between mobile phones and physical things. We are developing applications and services that enable people to interact with everyday objects and situations through their mobile devices. http://www.nearfield.org
As invisible technologies including WiFi, RFid, Satellite Communications, Cellular Communication, radar, sonar, IR, UVA, UVB, etc infiltrate consumer markets, questions about the physical understanding and representation of these fields has designer, and consumers worried about their power. Currently with in cellular communication, the connection bar has been a stand in for the the quality of connection a user will receive on that device. The indication of service bars is an abstract representation of the potential invisible field for that device. The abstract representation does not take into account bandwidth, number or callers with in the area or amount of traffic a particular for this case a cell tower is handling. I may be so bold to say the my cell phone calls have been dropped on occasion due to traffic not potential connection.
The issue of field representation takes on a different role when individual consumer devices are communicating independent of their service providers. The implementation of RFid technologies has many consumers, and technology producers skeptical of its use and abuse. RFid takes invisible field communications from the macro world of cell towers and nation wide coverage to the micro of near field communication (NFC) which is a couple of inches to a couple feet from a reader. The fear vetted by many consumers is a level of control and protection. When a user can just walk through a door and be charged for items with out interaction of purpose the implementation of intent has many saying RFid will be the new treat to consumer fraud and identity theft.
Desigers at nearfield.org and many of the experiments I am engaging in within my own work is attempting to challenge and educate consumers, designer, producers, and industries that the technologies can make really engaging experiences but only when there is a intrinsic understanding of operation space. Educate consumers and teach them that communication can be done through proximity and habits and interactions will follow that will engage there interactions with purchasing connection and understands in trans-formative ways.
RFid tags and reader are becoming more and more accessible in consumer markets. The idea is to do some experiments in giving paper and printed artifacts a computational affordance through the RFid’s. As technology becomes more embedded into our systems, the ability of that technology to engage our role or connection to the content changes. The role of the print medium can potentially be extended through the use of RFid tags and readers. If tags are embedded into the print narrative and incorporate the unique afforance of the RFid then a user can engage in that piece of print media from a new and unique perspective.
The concept is going to explore what paper can become when the technology of RFid and the interactive elements of passive, active, interactive, and networked objects engage the user in a potentially more meaningful, fun, and mystical experience that allows the printed artifact to take on a different role then in opposition to the screen and dynamic content generators.
Three types of RFID tags: active RFID tags, which contain a battery and can transmit signals autonomously, passive RFID tags, which have no battery and require an external source to provoke signal transmission and battery assisted passive (BAP) which require an external source to wake up but have significant higher forward link capability providing great read range.
One is an integrated circuit for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and other specialized functions. The second is an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal.
RFid have been the technology that has be toted at the wave of the future. A series of chips and printable items that will allow us to walk out of stores and be automatically charged. For as many companies that claim RFid is the wave of the future there are also a number of skeptics and those fearful of the power and versatile technologies.
