iFINDER

The idea behind iFINDER is simple: tag your belongings with RFID labels, and let the device keep track of what you own and where it lives. The maker positions it as a digital inventory system for the home, aimed at the familiar problems of misplaced items and accidental duplicate purchases.

How it works

According to the maker, the workflow is "attach label, auto-categorise, manage inventory." Each label can carry an item name, a category and a location note such as "living room bookshelf, bottom shelf." The device reads tags contactlessly and, the maker says, can scan multiple tagged items at once, such as a storage box of books or clothes, for batch inventory. When an item moves from one room to another, iFINDER is said to update its location automatically through label detection.

To find something, users type a name or give a voice instruction. The screen then shows a radar-style directional display, while vibration indicates distance, growing stronger as you get closer. The maker also describes audio alerts as part of the search experience.

No app required

Registration, search, categorisation and inventory checks all happen on the device's full-colour touchscreen, with no smartphone needed. The maker pitches this as making iFINDER accessible to older users or anyone uncomfortable with apps. Multiple iFINDER units can be registered to the same account and share inventory data, so one could sit in the living room and another in a bedroom.

Key specifications, per the maker

• Recognition range: 10 metres (lab test value; walls and interference may affect real-world range)
• Weight: 400g
• Battery: 5000mAh, over 100 hours of standby
• Charging: Type-C
• Labels: Book Labels (20) for paper items, Washable Labels (20) for clothing and textiles, General Labels (10) for smooth surfaces such as plastic, glass and metal
• Labels are described as leaving no adhesive residue when removed

iFINDER is presented as a Kickstarter project. Its appeal lies less in novel technology than in packaging RFID inventory tracking into a standalone, screen-equipped unit intended for everyday home use.