Ambient Backscatter for battery-free object communication - Wired

*Nifty technique. via Bruno Boutot http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/08/13/wireless-devices-go-battery-free-with-new-communication-technique/ "We might be one step closer to an Internet-of-things reality. "University of Washington engineers have created a new wireless communication system that allows devices to interact with each other without relying on batteries or wires for power. "Using ambient backscatter, these devices can interact with users and communicate with each other without using batteries. They exchange information by reflecting or absorbing pre-existing radio signals. "The new communication technique, which the researchers call "ambient backscatter," takes advantage of the TV and cellular transmissions that already surround us around the clock. Two devices communicate with each other by reflecting the existing signals to exchange information. The researchers built small, battery-free devices with antennas that can detect, harness and reflect a TV signal, which then is picked up by other similar devices…." via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFoc6oeMC5U3E50YGrVICPX2dZhAg&url=http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2013/08/ambient-backscatter-for-battery-free-object-communication/

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2598265