ET wearable RFID gear turns everything into toys

While the bandwagon approach would be to develop an anti-RFID device to eliminate RFID invasions from our lives altogether, a mysterious Japanese website spells out an interesting take on making wearable RFID, dare we say, enjoyable. The ET (Everything Is Toy) is a "wearable computing system designed to change our daily lives into play," basically transforming the RFID tags on everyday objects into random bits of fun. The video demonstration showcases the system determining that the user picked up an umbrella, but rather than sulking about how rainy it is outside, he proceeds to bust out a few ninja-like moves while the integrated speaker on his person translates the motions into sword clanging sounds. Other examples are a thrown orange becoming a whizzing fireball and your average desk chair revving up like a race car when wheeled around. Of course, the idea is still a prototype, and it won't do us much good without a whole lot of RFID-enabled goods at our disposal, but this looks like a surefire time waster when bored at the office at the very least. Click on through for the sound-filled demonstration.

[duckhunt @ Jan 19th 2007 1:21PM]

Officer Jones will have to battle this kid in the next "Police Academy" movie.

[Alex @ Jan 19th 2007 1:30PM]

You can't help but love the Japanese.

[glacia @ Jan 19th 2007 2:07PM]

reminds me of the Family Guy episode where Peter wished for his own theme music.

[THEKorean @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:30PM]

LOL thats what i was thinking!

[ThePete @ Jan 19th 2007 2:08PM]

Holy crap that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Soooo much effort just to do something that is borderline fun. I mean, when I want to hear a wooshing sound while karate chopping, I just make the sound... with my mouth! Same with light sabering or air machine gunning. Really, my imagination is pretty cool that way.

[Don @ Jan 19th 2007 3:15PM]

"Holy crap that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. "
Ok...

"when I want to hear a wooshing sound while karate chopping, I just make the sound... with my mouth! Same with light sabering or air machine gunning."

Now that it the dumbest thing I'VE ever heard.

[Paul @ Jan 19th 2007 2:27PM]

this isn't meant for adults - this is a great idea for a kid's toy. There were other toys in the past that used barcodes scanning as part of a handheld game, this i think extends that and takes it to an interesting place. Kudos.

[some person @ Jan 19th 2007 7:14PM]

i.must.have.the.plans.for.that.suit!

[Dr_GonZo @ Jan 21st 2007 12:58AM]

Robin Williams had a similar but wackier prototype suit in the film "Toys".

[cooier @ Jan 21st 2007 12:35PM]

Just imagine of a rpg in reality.. You'll have to go to tibet and touch a buddha statue, just to be able to buy an ultra "+5 to strength" new coat - so you could beat the monster guarding pot of gold in your town's park! =D