1. Business contacts

By Tay Chern Hui

The IBM system, Pensieve, uses a combination of your mobile phone and desktop computer.

A mobile phone is used as a data collection tool and then your desktop PC gathers all the information, groups it and adds the finished results to your address book. HOW IT WORKS

You meet a new business associate. He gives you his business card and you take a picture of him with your phone camera and snap the business card too. The person's image is tagged.

Pensieve detects information such as name, address and phone number on the business card and links them to the tagged images.

The information is then added to your address book, giving you a complete profile of that person.

2. Lost and found

Attach the transmitter as a handphone sling and slide the small receiver into your pocket or onto your belt.

HOW IT WORKS

If the transmitter and receiver are seperated up to a distance of 7m, the receiver will begin to beep or vibrate, alerting you to your misplaced cellphone.

3. Smart watch

The users are equipped with a device that acts as an interface. This is driven by a small personal server that a wearer carries in a pocket which will eventually become a part of a wristwatch.

The items are labelled with RFID tags and RFID readers and are installed at various locations such as your home, car or computer. They work together to read the tags.

HOW IT WORKS

When the person passes a reader:

The tag is pingged and the ID information is broadcast locally to the user's personal server.

The computer confirms the ID.

The server takes into account the last known location of the watch and server, the user's calendar and where he may be going. If the server finds that an item is missing and will be needed, it signals the watch to prompt the wearer.

Other smart watches

What it does:

Its connection to MSN Messenger and your buddy list allows you to use MSN Messenger while on the go.

Access to various things like news, sports, weather, stocks and horoscopes.

Has programmable alarms.

Can be connected to your computer via USB to keep track of your schedule. The Tissot High T Touch Screen watch
What it does:

Receives personalised content such as news, weather, stock updates and appointments.

4. Home calling

The Hammacher Schlemmer GPS Homing Device (below) is a simplified GPS unit that is small enough to fit on a key chain. Ideal for things such as finding your car after shopping, returning to a favourite spot on the beach or returning to camp.

HOW IT WORKS

It uses an advanced GPS receiver chipset that provides a high degree of accuracy within 5m.

It counts down the distance as you approach your starting point and its self-calibrating digital compass displays your heading in degrees and indicates direction with an easy-to-read arrow.

Photos: ST

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.