Button size IR web server

Make a tiny web server, with an IR interface that server a small web page or ftp site. It could be the size of a button, sealed and waterproof. Have a small rechargeable battery and a small solar panel. The solar panel keeps the battery charged and powers the device when it is just listening for an incoming IR signal. Perhaps a changeable lithium battery would be enough to last several years. 1 Megabyte of flash ROM would hold a pretty good user manual.

Read the web site with a palmtop or other device with IR interface. Upload files to the button through the IR also. It would come with a default web site for configuring and uploading your files. Have it uploadable and downloadable as a single zip file, for easy copying.

All the documentation for a product could stay with it its entire life. Signs could have a web button with much more information attached. They would be perfect for museums. They could be distributed like CDs or paper pamphlets are now, for menus or advertising. They could contain music or video. They could probably be made for <$1. When wireless internet becomes common they could just contain URLs. They would be great for storing warrantee information and an electronic copy of the original sales receipt.

Viewing them would be nice with transparent VR glasses - as you look around the web sites home pages or icons could appear next to the buttons.

It might need a few minutes of bright light after years in darkness to recharge.

IR would work better than RF, because location is important. You can differentiate between IR devices a few feet apart. You don't want to pick up the coffee maker's web site when trying to read the car's owner's manual, or the car battery's web.

They could also be good for control panels. One of them as a virtual control panel would probably be much cheaper than the LCD display and buttons on a microwave or dishwasher, and it would be much more flexible.