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HP Unveils Revolutionary Wireless Chip That Links the Digital and Physical Worlds; Grain-Sized Chip Could Be Attached to Almost Any Object, Making Information More Ubiquitous
PALO ALTO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 17, 2006—
HP (NYSE:HPQ) (Nasdaq:HPQ) today announced that its
researchers have developed a miniature wireless data chip that could
provide broad access to digital content in the physical world.
With no equal in terms of its combination of size, memory capacity
and data access speed, the tiny chip could be stuck on or embedded in
almost any object and make available information and content now found
mostly on electronic devices or the Internet.
Some of the potential applications include storing medical records
on a hospital patient's wristband; providing audio-visual supplements
to postcards and photos; helping fight counterfeiting in the
pharmaceutical industry; adding security to identity cards and
passports; and supplying additional information for printed documents.
The experimental chip, developed by the "Memory Spot" research
team at HP Labs, is a memory device based on CMOS (a widely used,
low-power integrated circuit design) and about the size of a grain of
rice or smaller (2 mm to 4 mm square), with a built-in antenna. The
chips could be embedded in a sheet of paper or stuck to any surface,
and could eventually be available in a booklet as self-adhesive dots.
"The Memory Spot chip frees digital content from the electronic
world of the PC and the Internet and arranges it all around us in our
physical world," said Ed McDonnell, Memory Spot project manager, HP
Labs.
The chip has a 10 megabits-per-second data transfer rate -- 10
times faster than Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology and comparable to
Wi-Fi speeds -- effectively giving users instant retrieval of
information in audio, video, photo or document form. With a storage
capacity ranging from 256 kilobits to 4 megabits in working
prototypes, it could store a very short video clip, several images or
dozens of pages of text. Future versions could have larger capacities.
Information can be accessed by a read-write device that could be
incorporated into a cell phone, PDA, camera, printer or other
implement. To access information, the read-write device is positioned
closely over the chip, which is then powered so that the stored data
is transferred instantly to the display of the phone, camera or PDA or
printed out by the printer. Users could also add information to the
chip using the various devices.
"We are actively exploring a range of exciting new applications
for Memory Spot chips and believe the technology could have a
significant impact on our consumer businesses, from printing to
imaging, as well as providing solutions in a number of vertical
markets," said Howard Taub, HP vice president and associate director,
HP Labs.
The chip incorporates a built-in antenna and is completely
self-contained, with no need for a battery or external electronics. It
receives power through inductive coupling from a special read-write
device, which can then extract content from the memory on the chip.
Inductive coupling is the transfer of energy from one circuit
component to another through a shared electromagnetic field. A change
in current flow through one device induces current flow in the other
device.
Memory Spot chips have numerous possible consumer and
business-based applications. Some examples are:
-- Medical records: Embed a Memory Spot chip into a hospital
patient's wrist band and full medical and drug records can be
kept securely available.
-- Audio photo: Attach a chip to the prints of photographs and
add music, commentary or ambient sound to enhance the
enjoyment of viewing photos.
-- Digital postcards: Send a traditional holiday postcard to
family and friends with a chip containing digital pictures of
a vacation, plus sounds and even video clips.
-- Document notes: A Memory Spot chip attached to a paper
document can include a history of all the corrections and
additions made to the text, as well as voice notes and
graphical images.
-- Perfect photocopies: A Memory Spot chip attached to a cover
sheet eliminates the need to copy the original document. Just
read the perfect digital version into the photocopier and the
result will be sharp output every time, no matter how many
copies are needed, and avoiding any possibility of the
originals jamming in the feeder.
-- Security passes: Add a chip to an identity card or security
pass for the best of both worlds -- a handy card with secure,
relevant digital information included.
-- Anti-counterfeit tags: Counterfeit drugs are a significant
problem globally. Memory Spot chips can contain secure
information about the manufacture and quality of
pharmaceuticals. When added to a drug container, this can
prove their authenticity. A similar process could be used to
verify high-value engineering and aviation components.
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and
institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure,
global services, business and home computing, and imaging and
printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2006, HP
revenue totaled $88.9 billion. More information about HP is available
at www.hp.com.
Note to editors: HP news releases are available via RSS feed at
www.hp.com/hpinfo/rss.html.
Bluetooth is a trademark owned by its proprietor and used by
Hewlett-Packard Company under license.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties
materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and
its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and
assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact
are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements,
including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and
objectives of management for future operations; any statements
concerning expected development, performance or market share relating
to products and services; anticipated operational and financial
results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements
of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties
and assumptions include the achievement of expected results and other
risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and
Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the risks
described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended April 30, 2006, and other reports filed after HP's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2005. HP assumes no
obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking
statements.
(C) 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information
contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only
warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express
warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing
herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP
shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions
contained herein.
Contact:
HP
Dave Berman, 650-857-7277
Email Contact
Julian Richards, +0777 570 1800
Email Contact
or
Hill and Knowlton for HP
Smita Topolski, 415-281-7167
Email Contact
Anna Mordaunt, +020 7413 3705
Email Contact
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