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digital handbag

a voice operated "magic handbag" (or general bag) that gives you only what you ask for
  [vote for,

This was a dumb idea that came to me when I was stumbling around in the dark at Glastonbury under the influence of strange chemicals, fumbling through my pockets looking for keys, cigarettes, lighter, phone, etc. The idea is for a "magic handbag" (or shoulder bag, etc) operated by voice. When you open it, it's always empty. You put your keys in, say "keys", and close it. Open it again, it's empty, put in your phone, say "phone". Now close it again, say "keys", then open it, and voila, your keys (and nothing else). Close it again, say "phone", open it, voila, your phone (and nothing else). This is actually possible with current technology and a bit of smart design. Interesting to debug the UI as well.
bumhat, Sep 06 2002

Hmm http://www.halfbake...dea/Vomit_20Handbag
[angel, Sep 06 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]

bike-bag http://www.carradic...ures/A4-student.jpg
(mine isn't this exact one, but similar size) [lewisgirl, Sep 09 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]

running bag http://www.amg-outd...nfo.asp?typename=91
(mine is the 20L blue/orange one) [lewisgirl, Sep 09 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]

I hesitated, but this seems relevant. http://www.halfbake...dea/Handbag_20skins
[angel, Sep 11 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]


       So it's not *actually* empty, but the contents are in individual, voice-operated compartments? Each item that you put in goes into a new compartment, which is coded according to what you say when you put it in there? Rather good.
What happens if you have two sets of keys?
angel, Sep 06 2002

       Can you have an exploding feature?
Gulherme, Sep 06 2002

       <click> "House keys" <jingle><click>
<click> "Car keys" <jingle><click>
<click> "Mobile phone" <plup><click>
<click> "Hand grenade" <plup><click>
"w.o.r.d. .n.o.t. .r.e.g.o.g.n.i.s.e.d."
st3f, Sep 06 2002

       <click> "mother in law" <help><click>
<click> "needle in haystack" <tingle><click>
<click> "custard-filled carpetbag" <sploch><click>
FarmerJohn, Sep 06 2002

       [angel] I imagine that the second set of keys would have to be named something other than "keys" (assuming that's what you called the first set). This leads to some interesting security side-effects, folks could only get your keys if they knew exactly what code word you had used when filing them.   

       Not that I'm interested in handbags or anything like that - oh no - not me.
PeterSilly, Sep 06 2002

       <Judge Dredd> Double ...... Whammy ...... </Judge Dredd>   

       ClickClick...... BOOMBOOM   

       Now, call this a radical idea if you will, but how about two or three small handbags, actually built in to one's clothing ? Maybe we could call them "pockets" ..... they'd have plenty of space, if you didn't lug all that useless junk around with you all the time............
8th of 7, Sep 06 2002

       I think this is a great idea. I Spent 10 minutes of precious 'morning time' today clearing out my bag looking for my keys. Which brings me to suggest a little Display Unit stating what is stored in the bag, and perhaps a 'purge' function so that everything can be ejected if you can't remember what's in there under what code. So long as the purge function happened slowly, because if it were -my- bag, that could be either very embarrassing, or very dangerous.
fleur, Sep 06 2002

       Hmph. well, not too concerned about handbags, but it would be interesting to be able to hook up a display of where everything is. e.g. today I have left my mobile phone at home, <aside> which I have not found to be a problem, but then I decided to stay offline this morning and the aphid fancier who was going to meet me for lunch thought I had decided not to, since I didn't reply to SMS or email </aside>.
Now, this is due entirely to changing bags from yesterday to today. Yesterday I cycled in, requiring one type of bag to fit on the pannier rack - today I ran, requiring a backpack <aside2>and a lung transplant, evidently</aside2>. The changeover between those bags means that I have left at home my phone, my ID card and a letter that I was meant to post. This has meant that I can't get messages that people are sending me, I can't go to the gym or the shite computer cluster, and my recruitment consultant <aside3>=dad</aside3> won't review the causes of my latest failed job applcn until Monday.
Gosh, I'm rambling.
So, how to solve these ancillary belongings misplacements? For some, fashion dictates which handbag to use each day. For some, security dictates not wanting to open entire handbag to potential theft when only wanting to retrieve keys. For some, efficacy of transport choice determines choice of vessel in which to carry belongings. In this latter case, <keyword=bluetooth> a simple checking list of what is in each bag should display on TFT screen at doorway to house, with associated person/bag ID sensor to alert house-exiting person: "Lewis, you are carrying the pannier bag. Are you aware that your mobile phone is in the <wishfulthinking> brown Fendi baguette </wishfulthinking> you arrived home with last night at 2.14am?" (Of course the capacity for sarcasm is something I would like to see in this device.) Bumhat, you have my croissant du jour. However, I am a little concerned at your attitude that you think it would be //Interesting to debug the UI as well.// Please try to get out more.
lewisgirl, Sep 06 2002

       // For some, fashion dictates which handbag to use each day // <shakes head in sorrow at human gullibility>   


       1. Cut down the amount of stuff you carry to the bare minimum.   

       2. Buy clothes with decent pockets. Combat pants are good. Put the stuff in the pockets.   

       3. Strap whatever is left to your belt.   

       4. Carry everything at all times.
8th of 7, Sep 06 2002

       Shh, blissmiss. I think I may be in love with her.
General Washington, Sep 06 2002

       // think what "digital shoes' would do to her? //   

       Imelda Marcos ........
8th of 7, Sep 06 2002

       [bliss] - you keep a HARPOON in your handbag??? Or are you just pleased to see me?
PeterSilly, Sep 06 2002

       // So, how to solve these ancillary belongings misplacements? //   

       Might I suggest, when changing handbags, removing the contents of bag A and placing them into bag B.
waugsqueke, Sep 06 2002

       The physical details are pretty simple. Where it gets interesting is (a) doing robust voice matching (b) matching similar sequences when you forget, eg. "mobile", "phone", etc (c) training it to match your voice only (d) using it in noisy environments eg. clubs / bars. Someone once suggested a GPS/location-based addition, so when you get to the tube / subway it gives you your ticket, gives you your keys when you get to your front door, your gun when you get to the shooting range, your money when you go into a shop, etc.
bumhat, Sep 06 2002

       8th, you misquoted me. The first thing I said was "well, not too concerned about handbags". When I said "For some, ..." it should not have implied self.
Re: carrying minimal stuff: I do.
Re: pockets: uncomfortable and chafage-inducing when on a bicycle.
Re: combat trousers: dreadful things when wet on a bicycle, also too hot.
Re: belts: I do not use those (in conjunction with clothes).
bliss: I'm all off shoes. no money.
Gen W: you've started well, but you've got a lot to beat.
waugs: always a good theory, but when you need some things one day and others the next, too easy to leave wanted things in the unwanted pile. And not just a bag problem; even when you have not swopped bags between (e.g.) one evening and the next you may have taken something out, phones especially.<doorside-screen-speaker>"Lewis, the girly handbag you are carrying does not include your wallet. Is someone else paying for this evening out?"</doorside-screen-speaker>
lewisgirl, Sep 06 2002

       I see. Then the way to handle this is to have multiple instances of the same handbag.
waugsqueke, Sep 06 2002

       <Gulherme> thinks IT people use the amount of gadgets on their belt as a sign of rank.
Gulherme, Sep 07 2002

       <grins at fleur's barfing bag...>   

       Lewisgirl, how about putting bike-bag in run-backpack, rather than unloading it? Then you don't have to worry about where things are.   

       This would probably be too heavy with all the motors built in. Another way is just to tell it where you put things when you put them in...
StarChaser, Sep 07 2002

       [UB] - shirley with Schrodinger's Handbag you would never be sure whether there was a cat in it or not.
PeterSilly, Sep 09 2002

       StarChaser (good to see you back btw!)
see links - bike bag is bigger and has a rigid structure - also reasonably heavy. It wouldn't fit into running backpack, which I chose to be shaped and close fitting (although not too sweaty, due to wicking mesh fabric) - hence the non-rectangular shape, which wouldn't fit books and things. Running into work requires preparation, knowing that I can't carry anything file/folder-shaped.
To be honest, the answer to my bag confusions is just to be more organised and tidy. I should tip out the entire contents of bags onto bed when I get home, and pack new or same bag next morning. In practice though, there is never quite enough time, and it's a paradox of modern "time-saving" devices that many of us would rather spend five minutes talking to an electronic device than spend five minutes properly preparing what to carry into work. And so what! ... this is the halfbakery after all.
lewisgirl, Sep 09 2002

       // <Gulherme> thinks IT people use the amount of gadgets on their belt as a sign of rank. //   

       Status rather than rank, but you're entirely correct. The Alpha Geek can usually be identified by the gadgetry. NB Power != Authority ......   

       Lewisgirl: This place would be no fun if one couldn't deliberately misquote/misunderstand people.   

       NB Women's "Minimal Stuff" != Men's "Minimal Stuff". Point on bikes & combat pants conceeded. Point on belts disputed. Belts are good (Oh, the straps, the buckles, the chains ..... )   

       Waugs: Declare a single instance of class HandBag and then have multiple pointers.   

       UB: You have been found guilty by a jury of your peers of providing a feed line likely to provoke an unreasonable number of "Letting the cat out of the bag" puns. You are hereby sentenced to transportation to Australia for the term of your natural life. When that's over, we will think of something else nasty to do to you. But not death - that's too good for you.
8th of 7, Sep 09 2002

       //Re: belts: I do not use those (in conjunction with clothes).// [lg]
//Point on belts disputed.//[8/7]

how on earth can you 'dispute' whether and how I use belts?! You could 'advocate' the use of belts, but then again, women's hips are constructed such that a belt is very often a redundant feature in the need to maintain trouser garments in the desired position, since the hip:waist ratio does that by itself.
lewisgirl, Sep 09 2002

       // a belt is very often a redundant feature in the need to maintain trouser garments //   

       Yes - but the belt is for attaching things to in this case. It is non functional from a garment support aspect, but extremely practical for its technology support role.   

       "I have a car. Therefore, I do not need a bicycle" - but, a bicycle can be used as a route to fitness, rather than primarily as a means of transport. QED. You do not *need* a belt to hold up your trousers, but you do need something to serve as an attachment point.
8th of 7, Sep 09 2002

       <circular_argument> not if I have a bag.
lewisgirl, Sep 09 2002

       [UnaBubba]: Sssh, don't tell PeterSilly that - you've really let the cat out of the bag now...
pmillerchip, Sep 09 2002

       </circular_argument> Lewisgirl, please close your tags. I spent the last ten minutes trying to get out of a political website...<grin> </grin> Glad to be back...   

       I brane pharted, and reversed it...Mostly, I meant put the smaller bag into the larger, so you can just add in the extras you'd need. I used to do that with a buttbag, but it was a pain.
StarChaser, Sep 11 2002

       "Babushka-doll" style nesting handbags ?   

       [StarChaser], it would help if you could slightly rephrase your anno as it is generating some disturbing imagery related to the way you use your bags.
8th of 7, Sep 11 2002

       StarCh - it was entirely deliberately left open. Otherwise it wouldn't be a circular argument. Just trying to create a halfbakery black hole in here. Like ranting posts - where people just can't let their last comment lie, and have to have the last word... again. I call those pages HB Black Holes, and it's the time when I wish the page opened and went automatically to the last line you read, rather than having to scroll down. Wonder if that's possible?
lewisgirl, Sep 12 2002

       maybe halfbake should move to a "most recent comment first" format reminiscent of the ever-trendy blog ?
bumhat, Sep 13 2002

       Get thee behind me, Satan.
waugsqueke, Sep 13 2002

       and a scribble program would be nice so you could draw diagrams   

bumhat, Sep 13 2002


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