Disney Research uses RFID tags to create powerless, low-cost interactive controllers

The team at Disney Research is up to its fun old tricks, this time finding some new uses for off-the-shelf RFID tags. Along with researchers from Carnegie Mellon, Disney’s laboratory wing has discovered a low-latency way to process RFID signals, making it possible to use the tags to turn cheap objects into simple wireless interactive controls that don’t require battery power. The RapID (pronounced “rapid”) system could lead to all manner of inexpensively produced interactive toys. Such functionality could also be incorporated into smart books with relatively little expense.