Clothing-integrated RFID-based Interface for Human-Technology Interaction

In this paper, we present a new type of passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID)-based user interface for human-technology interaction. Our system is controlled with a shirtsleeve-integrated electro-textile antenna. The other part of the system consists of small identification (ID) ring antennas, each with a unique ID, embedded into our environment. Each ID ring has an RFID integrated circuit (IC) and can thus be “activated” by placing the shirtsleeve next to the specific ID ring. The shirtsleeve-integrated antenna has bands going around the wrist, thus increasing the read range even when the ring is behind the wrist. This cost-effective and maintenance-free solution can be seamlessly integrated into our everyday clothing, as well as into furniture, textiles, and items around us. The presented first prototype of this system, which can be used when sitting by a table, allows wireless controlling of technology by simple hand movements. The achieved read ranges are very promising, allowing activation of ID rings from distances of around 0.5–1 meters from a mobile RFID reader placed on a table.