A new shirt is coming out at the end of this month that will allow the wearer, and his admirers, to find nearby Wi-Fi hotspots and their signal strength.
To be released sometime in late October by ThinkGeek.com, the Wi-Fi Detector Shirt will be able to detect 802.11b and 802.11g carrier frequencies, which make up the largest Wi-Fi networks. The shirt's decal with the trademark image of a radio tower and signal bars lights up when it picks up a signal, with more bars indicating a stronger connection.
While the shirt's detector can find you a signal, it cannot tell if it is encrypted or not and requires a password to access it.
The shirt is marketed for convenience (why crack open your laptop when you can check your chest?) but doesn't seem practical. According to the specs, three AAA batteries are needed to keep the shirt going for a matter of hours, with a connector cable from a battery pouch to the removable decal. And be careful not to mix it in with the rest of your laundry.
Overall it seems like novelty, but look at other ThinkGeek products like the Wi-Fi Signal Locator keychain. For the same price as the shirt ($29.99) you can have the same signal detection from a device small enough to fit in with your keys. Similar products that aren't nearly as clunky might catch on a little faster.
An article by Stephen Lawson of the IDG News Service made the speculation that once Power Over Ethernet (802.11af) becomes more prevalent, such devices could be powered by the same signal they detect and make it a more practical product.
By Andy Franks
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