Comments on: Simsalabim, your oyster card shall be mysteriosly transformed into a chip and some wires.

Simsalabim, your oyster card shall be mysteriosly transformed into a chip and some wires.

munchbunch — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:41:32 -0800

Several websites have been trying to out do one another in the melt your oystercard using nail polish remover stakes. I like Skeptobot's idea of using an Oystercards RFID chip in a magic wand. But, so far, for me Chris Woebken is winning, not least because he ties it all in with an interesting discussion of e-money. Add a video of a magnetic glove being used to give Darth Vader like powers. And only one word remains - genius.

By: DU

DU — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:49:13 -0800

What. What do RFID chips have to do with magnet gloves? And how do magnet gloves move vodka?

By: rokusan

rokusan — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:50:10 -0800

I love these, but what happens when you take one of these cleverly hacked Oyster cards for a topup? Will the nice man at the Sainsbury's refill my magic wand?

By: TheophileEscargot

TheophileEscargot — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:12:06 -0800

You can top up the cards, either with cash or a card, at the station machines. I suspect the bigger problem would be that as soon as the staff saw you using one at a station, you'd be assumed to be some kind of fare-dodger and end up with a load of hassle.

By: cowbellemoo

cowbellemoo — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:17:31 -0800

Yeah, vodka's not metal! What gives?

By: kingfisher, his musclebound cat

kingfisher, his musclebound cat — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:33:59 -0800

Oyster was the name of my cat. He died. This makes sad. The vodka is cheap and ornamented with metal, like Goldschlager, but with iron. It is awful, almost as bad as Goldschlager. RIP Oyster.

By: EmpressCallipygos

EmpressCallipygos — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:43:01 -0800

....What in the name of J. Edgar Hoover is an oystercard?

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:47:35 -0800

It's the reloadable transit pass for the London (UK) transit system. I have no idea why it's called Oyster, though. Perhaps as in 'the world is your oyster'?

By: gfrobe

gfrobe — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:56:30 -0800

Pretty cool. If I could embed one of those chips in my hand I'd never have to worry about forgetting my Oyster card again.

By: Faux Real

Faux Real — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:07:21 -0800

Pretty cool. If I could embed one of those chips in my hand I'd never have to worry about forgetting my Oyster card again. Flagged as terrifying.

By: ericb

ericb — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:11:17 -0800

I have no idea why it's called Oyster, though. Perhaps as in 'the world is your oyster'?

"The Oyster brand name was agreed after a lengthy period of research managed by TranSys, the company contracted to deliver the ticketing system in London, and agreed by Transport for London. A number of alternative names were considered; however, Oyster was chosen as a fresh approach that was not directly linked to transport, ticketing or London. According to Andrew McCrum, now of Appella brand name consultants, who was brought in to find a name by Saatchi and Saatchi Design (in turn contracted by TranSys), Oyster was conceived and subsequently promoted because of the metaphorical implications of security and value in the component meanings of the hard bivalve shell and the concealed pearl. Its associations with London through Thames estuary oyster beds and the popular idiom 'the world is your oyster' were also significant factors in its selection as was the uniqueness of the word Oyster." ^*

By: oaf

oaf — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:33:00 -0800

I wonder if this would work with SmartLink cards.

By: Duug

Duug — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:55:35 -0800

Oyster is the world's largest contactless transport card scheme in the world. 8000 buses 300 stations Handles 64% of 3.7 million bus journeys and and 2.7 million underground train journeys A DAY. Annual ticket sales revenue - £1.8 billion (approx $3.6 billion) Target - 7 million London commuters

By: quin

quin — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:31:30 -0800

So, why exactly would I want a glove that pushed the alcohol away? That seems entirely too counterintuitive.

By: tapeguy

tapeguy — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:59:47 -0800

I think this is the best Oyster card hack I've seen.

By: awfurby

awfurby — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:19:25 -0800

Here in Hong Kong we have the Octopus card - and instead of people tearing open their cards to get to the chip, we can just buy watches or other small gadgets that have a chip in them, that can be recharged at any convenience outlet in the city. So to all those people in London being smartarses I say "why not turn your tiny rebellion into an actual business and enter into an arrangement with Oyster to market and distribute Oyster chips in a variety of form factors?".

By: Frasermoo

Frasermoo — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:58:24 -0800

DU nailed it for me.

By: DecemberBoy

DecemberBoy — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:57:28 -0800

Let me know when someone comes up with some interesting hacks for my Narwhal card.

By: goo

goo — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:59:23 -0800

I was thinking the same thing, awfurby. If Hong Kong can put their Octopus card chips into sim cards, why can't London? And why can't I use my Oyster card to buy milk?

By: goo

goo — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:02:19 -0800

I'm waiting for a Dugong card myself, DecemberBoy. Or maybe a Vestimentiferan worm card.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:13:18 -0800

I think this is the best Oyster card hack I've seen. That's awesome. If Monty Python were new today, that's precisely the sort of thing they'd do.

By: essexjan

essexjan — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:19:28 -0800

And why can't I use my Oyster card to buy milk? You can. Sort of.