Interactive Name Badge puts compatible people together

American start-up nTAG has produced an interactive name badge for conferences and social events that significantly improves the quality of people-to-people connectivity. Based on years of research at MIT's Media Lab, nTAG brings social technology into the business event arena where both host and attendee derive numerous benefits compared to the paper badges of the past. While stimulating conversation between attendees, nTAGs also help organisers to deliver event information, track attendance, manage security, send messages, and evaluate surveys and polls in real time. Worn like regular paper badges, nTAGs exchange data with one another using infrared sensors. As attendees approach each other, information is automatically transferred from tag to tag, requiring no action from the wearer. Then the tags' LCD screens illuminate and display information on shared interests -- "Hi Karen, we both work in the fashion apparel industry."

Just under 10 cm wide, 9 cm high and weighing 170 grams, the nTAG is similar in appearance to a traditional conference badge. But with infrared sensing, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system, LCD screen, and three simple control buttons, nTAGs act as a personal host connecting individuals with mutual interests and needs.

The technology brings people together to make connections and help event planners use the nTAG technology as a total event communications system.

nTAGs are pre-loaded with information an individual wishes to share with others.

Attendees provide this data by answering questions provided by the organizer when registering for an event.

These can be simple multiple choice questions such as, "What is your favorite season?" which attendees answer using the control buttons; or more in depth questions such as, "Why do you think the new product line should be targeted to women aged 25-34?" This information can also be answered through a web form distributed pre-event or at kiosks located at the venue.

Throughout an event, nTAGs communicate with a central server using RFID, allowing the event host to monitor nTAG interactions, ideas being shared, polling and survey data; and distribute both scheduled and ad hoc messages regarding the conference agenda. For example, if a session ran longer than expected -- a message can be sent to all attendees, "The 2:00 session ran 15 minutes late. As a result, all following sessions have been moved back 15 minutes."

Among other virtues of the nTAG is "Idea Sharing". Attendees load their nTAG with questions and answers to business or social concerns. The host can set a theme, such as "How do we reduce the unemployment rate?"

Attendees reply to the question and as they mingle, nTAGs display their ideas, allowing people they meet to accept or reject them by clicking a button on their tag. Popular ideas quickly spread throughout the room; ideas that are rejected eventually fizzle out. Attendees are encouraged to discuss big ideas, and the host collects valuable insights.

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