I'm forever losing my wallet, keys, belt, etc. I want one of those
"key finder" things. But I'm not happy with the ones I've seen.
I do not want something bulky, like all the "clap" key finders I've
seen:
http://www.dutchguard.com/acatalog/DutchGuard_Just_Whistle_Once_Key_Finder_46.html
http://www.smarthome.com/3290.html
http://www.shopallenbeys.com/dressing-clothing-aids-key-loacator-p-ej-412300-66.html
http://www.youcansave.com/sonickeyfinder.html
etc.
The Sharper Image model is more like what I'm looking for, in that
it's RF-activated and comes with four reasonably stylish fobs that can
be easily stuck to objects as well:
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/pipmoreshell1.jhtml?sku=&pid=38018000&catid=22&pcatid=22&nicknameindex=
But again, the fobs look bulky, and their thickness isn't specified. I
saw something like this on the BBC show "Tomorrow's World" not too
long ago, but didn't get a good look at the size of the fobs. It
definitely wasn't the Sharper Image unit, though.
Ideally, I'd like something like this (RF, multi-fob), but with SMALL
receivers. Let me say that again. SMALL. THIN. VERY unobtrusive.
My wallet is a little tricker. A thin enough object (a couple credit
cards in thickness) would be OK, but I'm not too optimistic on finding
that. Alternatively, a "rod-shaped" object would work in the fold. No
more than about 3" long and 1/4" diameter. I understand that this may
be an unsolvable problem, so don't fret too much over it.
Cost isn't really an issue. (I'd pay up to a couple hundred bucks for
a quality setup.) Size is.
I already have a small keychain light and multitool that I'm happy
with, so extra features probably aren't a plus.
As always, please don't answer unless you've found something unique
that comes very close, at least, to the criteria. |
Request for Question Clarification by
chris2002micrometer-ga
on
21 May 2002 08:52 PDT
Must the problem have a technological solution?
|
If I may assume that stopping the loss of these small items
and eliminating the wasted time looking for them is your actual goal,
I can
offer some simple, but effective suggestions. I, too, tend lose things
and
have had to develop a "system". Two rules are:
1) Everything needs to have a place of its own.
2) Have "backup" items if they are cheap enough.
I have a spot near my bedside in one house, a spot near the door in
another
house and a spot in my car where I will place any of these small items
consistently. Whether I am tired, drunk, fresh as a daisy, or
whatever, I use these
locations consistently. My particular items are:
1) keys
2) wallet
3) partial denture
4) glasses
5) small tools
You can mark this spot more effectively if you actually buy a special
dish or cup
for them, and only for them.
I do have a spare set of keys, glasses and small tools that I keep in
another special
location that I will use in an emergency and trust that I will come
across the original
item soon enough without wasting time looking. You might do this with
your belt. Just keep
a spare.
Periodically I dump my wallet out on a photocopier and make a "paper
wallet" that shows
the current contents and might serve me well in a pinch.
Get an official photo-ID made at the drivers license bureau. You can
really be hosed up if
you misplace your DL, like I did at an airport after fishing for my
credit card.
If I misplace my glasses, I cannot see well enough to find them, so I
always pull out a
spare pair and sooner or later I will find the first pair.
I most often lose glasses because I don't always put them where they
belong. I take them
off a lot to look at something close. I have several extra cheap pairs
that get me by.
The denture is one thing that I do not have a spare for. I am very
careful to use my
special spots and have not lost it in 10 years.
With other items that I don't ordinarily use every day, I must be
extra careful. Sometimes
I make a check list before going somewhere so I can account for
everything before I leave.
Time is indeed money, and as a frugal investor, I cannot allow my own
sloppiness and poor
memory to disrupt my life and cost me $. Develop these firm habits now
and you will be
better off. Even hi-tech, whistle-type gadgets can fail or get out of
range enough to
render them useless.
This same philosophy is good for your computer as well. How many times
have you downloaded
something and didn't see where it went? I have special folders, close
to the root directory,
that I always use. I even have a little file in the root directory
called "memory" where I
put all my passwords and random notes. I have a shortcut to post a
note and to
display the file contents right on my Windows desktop.
I hope this is helpful and that you can get better organized. |
Clarification of Answer by
chris2002micrometer-ga
on
21 May 2002 11:46 PDT
A google search of "memory losing things" turned up some relevant
material but little free advice.
From http://www.maddogproductions.com/ds_lost.htm
Generally speaking, the more of something you have the better the
chance of not losing all of it, which is why it’s always good to have
backups of everything. Extra socks, spare keys under the door mat, and
another pair or glasses which you may or may not be able to see well
enough to find are all good things to have. Of course one or two will
usually suffice; you don’t need 84,999,999 backups. Well, not unless
you’re a French pharmaceutical company, anyway.
FRom http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/mature/mature24.htm
What is the single most important thing I can do to avoid frustrating
memory lapses?
Focus your attention on what you really want to remember. Much of what
is called forgetting is a lack of attention. If you become frustrated
because you lose your car in the parking lot or often misplace your
glasses, make a special effort to pay attention when parking the car
or taking off your glasses.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
alexander-ga
on
21 May 2002 14:55 PDT
Hi Chris,
I appreciate your time, really I do, but yes, the solution must be
technological. (or at least an actual object -- I guess if there was a
squeaking remote-controlled worm...) I think I made that reasonably
clear in the question -- I asked for a "key finder" thing, not a
solution to losing the keys in the first place.
You see, I almost never lose things "for good", but I enjoy not having
to put items away when I'm done with them. As my keychain has a light
and multitool, I frequently use it in the house, and just as
frequently leave it where I last used it. Same with my wallet -- it
contains a one-time-pad password device.
It's not usually a big deal, as I can typically find it within a few
minutes at most, but I'd like to avoid the panicked feeling that comes
with the search, and avoid having to ask others where they last saw
it, as well as the occasional extended search.
If you like, I'll give you a chance to come up with a technological
solution, or else I'll have to ask for a repost. (There should be a
way for a researcher to harmlessly withdraw their answer -- no hard
feelings, but it just doesn't hit the mark.)
|
Clarification of Answer by
chris2002micrometer-ga
on
21 May 2002 15:46 PDT
Alexander - I will withdraw the answer if the following technological
suggestion is not to your liking. Anti-theft security systems such as
those found in stores and libraries often utilize a foil strip with a
tiny diode that will re-emit rf energy when "illuminated" with rf
energy from a large coil built into the portal you pass through. A
modification of such a device where a movable coil (like a metal
detector) could be used to sniff for the lost item. The benefit here
is the tiny, and cheap, foil strip that could be unobtrusively
attached to almost anything, possibly even a denture! One possible
disadvantage would be inadvertently setting off someone else's alarm
when you walk through with your keys, etc. I could chase this a little
further if you want. I did do some work on such a security system and
know a little about how they work (and how to fool 'em). This was my
first Google answer so I do apologize for missing your mark.
Chris
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
alexander-ga
on
21 May 2002 15:56 PDT
Ah, see, now you're thinking! ;)
I like it...I imagined something using those RF tags at one point, but
I couldn't really figure out how it would work.
If you could find a relatively inexpensive "detector" (again, ~$200
range) and source for the tags, I'd be pretty happy. Ideally, range
should be at least 10 feet, but I guess 5 or more would be doable.
|
Clarification of Answer by
chris2002micrometer-ga
on
21 May 2002 17:27 PDT
From a google search of:
library security foil strip
http://www.grouparnold.com/corp/sm_security.htm
Market Segment Discussion
Prevention of theft has become a major industry whether it be to deal
with theft of books from a library, clothing or goods from a store or
equipment from the workplace.
Anti-theft tagging, generally referred to as Electronic Article
Surveillance or EAS, is widely employed to reduce theft. Technologies
utilizing radio frequencies to interact with "tags" on merchandise
have steadily improved. Today, there are four methods used:
Swept-RF (also called Radio-Frequency) tags use an "antenna" in the
tag to reradiate a signal which is then detected by a receiver.
Acousto-Magnetic uses a combination of permanent and soft magnetic
material which transmits based on a pulsed electromagnetic field which
stimulates it.
Electromagnetic: found mostly in Europe.
Microwave: the oldest source-tagging technology.
http://www.grouparnold.com/products/rolled/rolled_catalogs.htm
Precision Strip & Foil Product Catalog 722k 3:20
Searching patents:
http://www.uspto.gov
Acousto-Magnetic
3 patent# 6,054,924 Magnetic markers
An electronic article surveillance tag wherein a magnetic material on
the tag is divided into distinct zones such that the zones and their
relative positions represent information or a code which is readable
magnetically by passing the tag through a magnetic field which
comprises a relatively small region of zero magnetic field (a magnetic
null) contiguous with regions where the magnetic field is sufficient
to saturate said magnetic material, the tag being moved through the
magnetic field and its magnetic response being detected as it
traverses the magnetic null.
5 patent# 5,565,847 Magnetic tag using acoustic or magnetic
interrogation
In a first aspect of the invention, a magnetic tag for remote sensing
is provided which includes at least one element of a soft magnetic
material, means for supplying an inhomogeneous magnetic field around
said element, each at least one magnetic element preferably being
mounted within a Helmholtz resonator for responding to respective
resonances of at least one magnetic element to produce respective
unique time varying magnetic fields corresponding to the resonances,
when excited by acoustic excitation. Herein, the resonances are
mechanical in nature and correspond to vibrational modes in a
direction normal to the plane of the element.
In a second aspect of the invention, a single or multibit magnetic
tag, preferably for mounting on a Helmholtz resonator for enhancing a
mode of vibration, is provided which includes at least one soft
magnetic element, the at least one element having first and second
ends, with both first and second ends being free or at least one of
the first and second ends being clamped to form an assembly wherein
with one end clamped said element is a cantilever and further
including a hard magnet mounted near said at least one element, or
other means, for supplying an inhomogeneous field around said at least
one magnetic element.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I helped a library construct additional sensitizing / desensitizing
stations using cheap magnets for this type of system.
Alternating poles 1/2 inch apart will desensitize a strip. A solid
pole sweep across the strip will re-sensitize.
Products using these technologies are commercially available in the
2-10 thousand dollar range. It would not be impossible
to build a home-made prototype based on some of this patent
information for a few hundred dollars. Sometimes you need to
make something that you cannot buy cheaply. I cannot direct you to an
available consumer product in the $200 range. It simply does not
exist yet. On the other hand, you could be first to market with such
an "invention". I did a similar thing with electrical
submetering and produced a much cheaper version of a commercial
product.
I don't know yet if there is a way to refund your money (I asked). I
hope this may be more of what you wanted (and was possible to
deliver).
Chris
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