We want to make online-offline connections more seamless as they are now. It is currently not possible to use your smartphone for all kinds of actions in daily life, for example opening a door (home, car, office) and doing a payment. For these things we now need additional tools which identify who we are (keys, cards). We only want to use our smartphone because we are getting mobile centric.
With TicTag's new connectivity technology that is based on screen recognition via physical touch, we can give digital fingerprints to all kinds of objects, products, services and even packages of data.
We want to reduce the hassle for people by taking away the keys and cards. In future the only thing you'll need is your smartphone.
Approach: how does your project solve the problem(s)?
We have developed and patented a new hardware/software technology that is based on screen recognition. All smartphone screens have multitouch capability. This means they are capable of reading a minimum of 5 touch events at a same time. By creating millions of unique patterns of those 5 touch events, we create unique fingerprints that can be assigned to and integrated into objects, products etc.
The hardware is a Smart Tag that has an integrated foil on which we can print 5 touch events with highly conductive materials. These tags can be customized in every way and can be integrated in all kinds of things, for example a car door. By tapping the Smart Tag with the screen of a smartphone, the car is recognized and a connection with the car can be set up (for example a forced BTLE connection, so without having to pair manually)
The software is a HTML-page that can be integrated into a website or app. It collects the 5 touch events and sends it to our database for further investigation. Our algorithm will find out which smart tag it is and will return the call.
Alternatives: what other alternatives could solve the problem(s)?
With the same production technologies we can also print NFC chips and other electrnic devices that can form new connectivity possibilites.
We don't see an other product than the multitouch smart tag. We can additionally try to work with less than 5 or more than 5 touch events if that's needed.
Benefits: what are the benefits of your proposal?
Our technology is low cost, highly scalable, works via iOS and Android and (when succesfully implemented) is already usable by billions of people all over the world that own a smartphone. It is not necessary to make any other hardware adjustment or investment. It's already there.
The smart tags dont need a battery and have low maintenance costs. It works highly intuitive because people understand that by touching something, you get control. It's like switching on the lights: you push a button and you get the result you wanted and expected.
Advantage: what gives your project the competitive edge?
There is currently no other comparable technology that has the same characteristics (very thin, low cost, easily to combine with NFC or other electronic components). We'll set a new standard of connectivity.
We have patented the technology, have R&D partners waiting to start co-developing it, already have potential buyers like Heineken (underneath a can of beer), Walt Disney (underneath an action figure), Nespresso (for customer experience in shops), Ahold (for story telling in shops), Audi (to connect to a shared car), and many more
Prospective Partners: what might you expect from prospective project partners?
We need a first investment of EUR250K to get to Proof of Product, and than an additional EUR1,1M for setting up the production line and scale up the marketing & sales organisation. Partners for R&D are present (option to choose between Germany or The Netherlands). We need acces to large corporates that are looking for new connectivity technologies. Can be in Electronics or Telco, but subject of Connectivity is also important in many other industries (like Retail, FMCG, Security, Industrial, Health, Transportation, Automotive and Payments) and therefor can be seen as a fundamental technology that becomes more important due to trends like IoT and Big Data.
