By University of Michigan – Frying pans, pill bottles, yoga mats, coffee cups and countless other nonelectronic objects could be turned into a network of Internet of Things sensors with a new RFID-based technology from the University of Michigan.

The system, called IDAct, bridges the gap between the estimated 14.2 billion “smart” electronic devices that are currently part of the Internet of Things and the hundreds of billions of everyday nonsmart objects left out of the picture.

U-M researchers say it’s a key step toward creating a truly immersive IoT experience.

“Imagine a world where your pill bottle keeps track of your medication intake and a water glass monitors your hydration level,” said Alanson Sample, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science and an author on a paper presented recently at the IEEE RFID Conference in Phoenix. “Even your yoga mat is aware of your exercises and could adjust lighting, temperature and background music accordingly.”

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