I've been wondering what the limitations on how much and what data those Passport RFID tags store - I then started to think about what alternate use they might have (whilst trying to avoid thinking about whether it allows your neighbours and general passers-by to scan your details remotely, which is probably fairly baked) - and I reckon you might just be able to make it more friendly: It could play a tune (perhaps when opened up) - perhaps only when within triggering distance of an RFID reader.

How this might work: RFID Tag holds embedded s/w, tune data & its coiled-up antenna uses the RFID page as a speaker (perhaps requires a magnet).
-- Dub, Apr 04 2009

Mexican Hat Dance http://www.youtube....watch?v=mZimZYTwuDk
Fabled vanquisher of vicious ear-worms [Dub, Apr 06 2009]

OT: Special alloy sleeves urged to block hackers? http://www.physorg.com/news166596219.html
Curses! [Dub, Jul 12 2009]

oh this could be soooo annoying. +1
-- po, Apr 04 2009


What po said.
Next sign of Armageddon: uploadable passport ringtones.
(Mine plays: "The BIg Country" by the Talking Heads.)
-- jutta, Apr 04 2009


RFID tag holds any old media URL.
//Mine plays: "The BIg Country" by the Talking Heads//?
Mine plays "In a Big Country", by "Big Country".
-- AbsintheWithoutLeave, Apr 05 2009


Mine would be "In the Halls of the Mountain King", played Jet Set Willy style.
-- wagster, Apr 05 2009


"Funky Town" by Lipps Inc.
-- hippo, Apr 06 2009


Thanks [hippo], I'll have that bloody tune in my head all day, now!

{Starts hummimg the Mexican Hat Dance tune, to rid him of the ear-worm - Linked, if others are suffering}
-- Dub, Apr 06 2009


I would like one of these stamped into my passport instead of an entry visa, with a different tune appropriate for each country visited.
-- xenzag, Apr 07 2009


Perhaps the tone could depend on the country you are entering: the Hat Dance for Mexico; God Save the Queen for England; Achy Breaky Heart for the US. Or, if space allows, the tune could be on a per-airport basis: something by Harry Lauder for Edinburgh; Japanese Boy by Aneka for Narita; Hell Hole by Spinal Tap for Heathrow. I'm sure that that would make the already disarmingly happy chaps and ladychaps at passport control carry out their duties in a manner even cheerfullier.

EDIT: Damn you, xenzag!
-- calum, Apr 07 2009


The Taliban could stick bits of blank cassette recording tape on theirs!
-- xenzag, Apr 07 2009


[Awol]Funny, mine only seems to play a short clip from that song
-- Dub, Jul 12 2009


I love this idea!

And I'm thinking... the new UK passports, one of which I've just acquired, have pictures of birds in them. (In fact the bird on my photo page is pecking at my head!!)

And there are greetings cards here which play birdsong when you open them.

And I'm going on holiday this weekend.

You can see where this is going...

So, should I bake this idea by sellotaping the chip from one of those cards into my photo page, so that it chirps merrily at the immigration officer when they open it up? Or is that likely to end up with me pinned down to a table as a burly, dour-faced officer pulls on a rubber glove and mutters something about a cavity search?
-- imaginality, Jul 13 2009


// Or is that likely to end up with me pinned down to a table as a burly, dour-faced officer pulls on a rubber glove and mutters something about a cavity search?//

They'll probably do that anyway if your bladder can hold more than 100mls of liquid. So I say go for it.
-- Loris, Jul 14 2009



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