TalkTag is a low-cost NFC reader/writer designed for visually impaired persons (VIPs) to be used for audio reminders and identifying everyday objects. It allows VIPs to associate NFC stickers, which are cheap and can be stuck to many surfaces, with audio reminders set by the VIPs themselves. The reminder set will be played back when the device is simply placed in near proximity of the NFC sticker.

This has a wide variety of applications including assisting in the identification of sensitive personal items, especially those with similar shapes, such as cards in a wallet, to everyday items like books, CDs, and even medicine. This independent device has been developed with feedback from VIPs and so it includes accessibility features designed specifically for them. However, due to its simplicity, affordability and reliability, this idea has wider applications for other groups, including the elderly who may be suffering from age-related memory loss.

Interestingly, it is also easy to see how many existing devices can be improved by using NFC technology. This is because an NFC tag can be read/sensed from several centimetres away – a very similar process to using an “Octopus” card (a commonly used fast payment technology using in Hong Kong). This will bring a huge improvement in tag sensing performance, as it is easy to explain how to use our device. Finally, the concept of using NFC tags will become more widely used because they are rewritable and so new tags will be unnecessary for soundtrack modification.

組長
Team Leader
鍾詠霖
CHUNG Wing Lam (HKU)

組員
Team Member
施子皓
SZE Tsz Ho (CityU)

院校顧問
Faculty Advisor
張澤松博士
Dr. CHEUNG Chak Chung Ray(CityU)

Website
talktag.hk