Transcript

This is a transcript from The World Today. The program is broadcast
around Australia at 12:10pm on ABC Local Radio.


New technology to replace barcode

The World Today - Tuesday, 27 September , 2005  12:42:00
Reporter: Tim Jeanes

TANYA NOLAN: Looking to the future now, and the barcodes that grace
most of our goods could soon become a thing of the past, replaced by
devices the size of a speck of dust. It's all part of the latest
invention from the man known around the world as the "Asian Bill
Gates".

Professor Ken Sakamura is in Hobart to demonstrate the new technology,
which some say could transform our lives.

Tim Jeanes reports.

TIM JEANES: In a glitch to his visit to Hobart, Professor Ken Sakamura
and his entourage are evacuated from their hotel.

Professor Sakamura says it's likely his technology is controlling the
fire alarm and it definitely would be in the fire truck.

His TRON computer-operating system is used to control an estimated
three to four billion devices worldwide, from digital cameras to car
engines.

But it's his latest development, the so-called "ubiquitous
communicator", that is now grabbing attention.

UBIQUITOUS COMMUNICATOR: This is a cold medicine. You cannot take it
with pain killer. This is an oral contraceptive, you cannot take it
because its validity date has expired.

TIM JEANES: The device scans goods embedded with transmitters the size
of a speck of dust, from packets of pills and everyday food items to
toy koalas.

UBIQUITOUS COMMUNICATOR: Hi, I am koala, I am not a bear, but related
to kangaroo and wombat. Our population has dwindled in the last decade
very rapidly, so please be nice to us.

TIM JEANES: Professor Sakamura expects his ubiquitous communicator
system will replace the barcode within about five years, with it able
to decode far more information.

KEN SAKAMURA: Barcode is not enough information inside. This can
expand into many, many data we can memorise. This is now better
technology rather than barcode.

TIM JEANES: It's all part of a wider development known as "ubiquitous
computing".

Believers in the system say tiny tags and sensors will eventually be
embedded all around us, in buildings, cars, houses, even street signs.

Trials in Japan already see tags giving information to tourists, while
they inform disabled people how to avoid obstacles.

Doctor Paul Turner is a senior research fellow at the University of
Tasmania.

PAUL TURNER: What we're talking about is the idea of computer devices
and information any place, any time, and anywhere. This isn't about
people having to wear lots and lots of gadgets or put the virtual
reality headsets on. This is about the computers being embedded within
our everyday life.

So there you are standing with your headphones on and your tape
recorder on, gosh, that's a lot of gear you're carrying around. Why
wouldn't you have that in the button on your shirt and the microphone
in the belt buckle?

TIM JEANES: Dr Turner says hopes are high for a local laboratory
Professor Sakamura is establishing with an industry, university and
government partnership.

PAUL TURNER: Tasmania fits in because we have a unique environment.
We've got a very good demographic that is, if you like, a test bed
site, it's an example of the Australian population as a whole. We've
got rural, regional, remote as well as metropolitan areas, so we've
got all the aspects that you might want to trial these devices in.

TANYA NOLAN: Dr Paul Turner from the University of Tasmania.

                              -==-

Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1469523.htm


Cheers, Steve..

---