Girton Labs Ltd

The card will flash and ring at a time selected by the user. The IXP-Note can also be used as a reminder sticker and attached similar to a postage stamp to valuable papers such as invoices, legal documents, invitations. A valuable sheet of paper can be found buried in a pile of other papers.

The time is currently programmed in the FLASH memory of the card and in future will be able to be set either from a PC Calendar (Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar) or on the card itself. IXP sticky notes can be attached to valuable objects like mobile phones and have sufficient sensing intelligence to only attract attention when the phone is lost and battery discharged. As soon as the phone is picked up, motion sensors automatically stop and reset the alarm. The speaker loudness is enhanced and is loud enough to be heard in an average domestic environment.

Personalised business cards can be designed – give your new contact a card, the card can be programmed to ring and light up in a week so they don’t forget you even if your business card is buried at the bottom of a handbag.

The cost per unit is less than $1 in 100 quantities. The working prototype technology developed by Girton Labs allows the computer, battery, lights, sound and sensors to fit within a 2mm thin case.

The IXP-Note is flexible, waterproof and robust and can be attached to most surfaces. The enclosure costs less than 1 cent and eliminates the conventional printed circuit board. The battery life is up to one year. A novel battery saving technology allows the computer clock speed to dynamically vary by 1:100 in real time according to processing requirements.

Sensors have also been built and tested for the IXP; a touch sensor allows the card to be tapped or touched to quieten the alarm or for data entry. Other sensors tested included low cost accelerometers and temperature sensing.

The IXP-Note can also be used for medical applications in a coin-sized label as it is flexible enough to attach to the skin. A data logging function such as movement detection can be used. This sensing platform allows many other applications, e.g. security, food and drink care, animal and plant care.

The image shows a prototype version, battery, LED, PIC microcontroller, this includes FLASH ROM, RAM, serial port, analogue inputs, clock and timers. The speaker and touch panel is on the rear.

Girton Labs is looking for interested business partners and manufacturers for this technology. This project was financed by the East of England Development Agency.

More information on IXP –Note www.girtonlabs.com. Telephone Lyndsay Williams, Managing Director of Girton Labs, 01223 525696, 07970 101578 or sensecam@gmail.com.

About Girton Labs, Cambridge

Lyndsay Williams set up Girton Labs in 2007. Williams had previously initiated Hardware Research at Microsoft Research Cambridge in 1998 where she also invented SensesCam, a camera for helping Alzheimer’s patients. Williams is also a Consultant for Apple Inc on the iPhone. Girton Labs designs and develops hardware and software prototypes of unique sensing computers for medical and consumer products.