October
2005, Issue 183
The
Silicon Wallet
CY8C27443-Based
Data Manager
DAYDREAM
ENGINEERING
Being
a designer can be exciting. What I like most is when
a fresh idea suddenly comes to mind and triggers a sequence
of new, inspiring applications. Well-educated people
call it brainstorming, but it isn’t too different from
genuine daydreaming!
The
abstract idea that makes the Silicon Wallet work is
that you can lock, set up, and control features of any
device by simply exposing it to a PC screen. Therefore,
this technology can be adapted for numerous interesting
projects.
For
instance, video game cartridges could be sold at an
introductory price with limited playing time or some
features locked. Later, customers could buy additional
time and levels by connecting to the vendor’s web site
and placing the cartridge on the PC screen. (CD-based
consoles could use a specialized memory card instead.)
From another perspective, if you want to control the
amount of time a child plays a video game, you could
use a joystick that works only at preprogrammed times.
Having the ability to expose it to a PC screen running
a user-friendly interface could be a convenient solution.
In
a similar way, the Silicon Wallet’s technology can improve
the way you configure most microcontroller-based products.
Setting up a universal remote control can take hours.
Imagine if you could go to a manufacturer’s web site,
select a device (e.g., TV, DVD, or satellite receiver),
and then transfer the entire setup to the remote control
with a single click of your mouse.
The
same would be great for a device like my pulse-check
bicycle computer. Every time I replace the unit’s battery,
it forces me to enter (by way of two ugly buttons) the
wheel diameter, date, time, beeper status, as well as
my age, sex, normal pulse rate, and so on. The same
information could be easily stored on a web page and
then transferred to the device by simply placing it
next to the screen.
It
wouldn’t be difficult to design a key that enables you
to add money from a credit card account. You could then
draw from the account to make purchases from a vending
machine or to pay for photocopies at a copier.
I’m
sure you’ll come up with your own imaginative ideas.
I look forward to seeing your creations!
