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The Ladybag reminds its owner of forgotten items with signals corresponding to those objects (Photo: Discovery) |
A new type of fabric bag that can identify its contents and alert the owner if any item goes missing. The Ladybag targets stylish women who sometimes leave home forgetting their mobile phones, house keys, or wallets.
“Our team consists of six girls. We came up with this idea because we believe that all women around the world could benefit from it“, said Ginny Mesina, a member of the research team and a senior student at Simon Fraser University in Canada.
To design this bag, the students utilized existing technology. At the bottom of the bag, they placed a radio frequency measuring device powered by a 9-volt battery. This device is connected to a panel resembling a screen on the front of the bag, featuring three types of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Each LED represents an icon for an item that the bag’s owner does not want to forget when leaving home. In the prototype, these items include a set of keys, a wallet, and a mobile phone. They then attached an RFID sensor to each of these items.
If any item is not present in the Ladybag, the corresponding icon will light up. When the keys, phone, or wallet are returned to their designated spots, the indicator will turn off.
“I always forget my phone, but I never forget my handbag. This is truly a fantastic innovation“, said industrial designer Rosanna Kilfedder, from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Kilfedder designed the Suntrap handbag, a solar-powered bag that absorbs daylight and glows at night, allowing the owner to easily see the contents.
The Ladybag research team aims to create a bag that can remember up to 20 items.
T. An
