The Relationship Between RFID Technology and ID Cards

The relationship between RFID technology and ID cards is close and personal. While both types of identification work extremely well individually, their efficacy together is amazing. For example, while it is conceivable that even the best ID cards can be forged, or lost and used by unscrupulous individuals, a card using RFID technology offers numerous protections.

If a card is lost, but has an RID tag, it can easily be tracked. While this may not lead to the apprehension of the individual who originally took it, it could lead to the card itself, and any damages could then be reversed.

Another, simpler way that RFID technology helps in the use of ID cards is via readers, the strongest of which can scan information up to thirty meters or more away. This displaces the tedium of a physical reader and allows people in the area to use the system more effectively.

This is especially important in work environments and places like schools with a high volume of people. If people simply have to flash their card at a reader, this speeds up traffic a great deal. Besides work and school environments, RFID technology and ID cards work in many other ways as well.

A scenario that this combination would prove extremely capable at aiding would be traffic crossing tolls on bridges. An ID card could have an RFID tag that would allow for a prepaid toll card. The driver would then flash the card at the reader as they drove by; they would only have to slow down, not stop, and wouldn't have to fumble for change or money.

In fact, RFID tags are used in this way already, although without the ID card, in the Bay Area as an optional payment method for traffic crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Called the 'FasTrak' the tag is mounted in the window and operates on a prepaid system so all the car has to do is slow down to be read and then continue on its way.

The areas in which ID cards and RFID technology can be combined and used are many, and their increasing use together portends greater levels of security for those in work, school and other environments.

DiscountID.com is the worldwide low-price leader in photo ID card printers and security products. For more information, visit Discountid.com.

Marcela De Vivo writes for the Discountid.com

Asset tracking with RFID technology:

RFID technology adds a new chapter in asset tracking technology. Now a day when large amount of valuable data, asset and people are needed for big projects, basic need of effective and efficient tracking system is increasing day by day. In this situation RFID technical solutions are being so effective.

Forgetting the thing is the common nature of human being but some times, this nature brought a dreadful condition. But to remember each and every thing is not possible. Asset tracking system helps you to track your important and valuable assets. For this reason there are many products and tracking systems are in the market.

Radio Frequency Identification is a groundbreaking technology for this field. Now there is no need to store whole history and full description about them every time. RFID tags are the simpler way to track them. Every tagged asset can be tracked by interpreting the upcoming radio signals from each tag.

RFID software solutions are used to track the particular server down in a huge data center. To identify and locate the packages in warehouse, warehouse manager add video with the all time favorite RFID intelligent tags.

Supply chain management, manufacturing and retailing are major area where long- range RFID solutions will be available in near future. The Forrester Research, provocatively entitled "BI Vendors Are Sleeping Through RFID's Arrival," by Keith Gile and Philip Russom which includes Cognos, SAS, Business objects (Profile, Product, Articles) and application vendors such as SAP- showed till now, there is no any application specific solution for interpreting RFID data and it may not be possible until 2010.

Asset tracking system with pioneering RFID technology is not so far away from you. At agilesense.com, you can find long range of RFID technical solutions for all kind of your asset tracking needs.

Diana

RFID : Is Radio Frequency ID the Wave of the Future?

Here?s something you don?t often hear ? how are you dealing with ?rifid?? OR RFID. If you DO often hear it, then this article isn?t for you, it?s far too simplistic. However, if you have never heard of RFID before, read on. It might just change your life, or at least the way you organize it. Radio Frequency Identification or RFID is the use of radio waves to identify objects; in English, the ability to track items without coming into contact with them. This is accomplished by a microchip attached to an antenna called transponders or ?tags?. The chip transmits ID information to the receiver which converts it to a digital format which is then read by a computer.

RFID isn?t new, its been with us in its current guise since the early 80s, and around since the 1920s ? you know the tag that they stick on jackets in the clothes store to stop you stealing them? However, its just grown up; businesses can track products throughout the manufacturing process from start to finish. These items can be tracked while in trucks, on shelves, wherever.

The Benefits of RFID include:
1. The ability to eliminate time consuming bar-coding or other tracking processes. Instead, all data can be collected along the production line. This also helps to lower production costs.
2. Prevention of the distribution of counterfeit products.
3. Elimination or reduction of theft and loss.
4. Reduction of supply chain cost.
5. Elimination of data entry and other tedious manual business process transactions.
6. Increase in order fulfillment time
7. Less time spent in check out lines, as consumers will only have to push their shopping carts in front of the readers.

The predominant downside is the high cost of the RFID hardware. Where tags alone can cost twenty five cents each or more, many retailers won?t get much of a return, if any, on their investment.

It?s hoped that Wal-Mart, the Defense Department and others will start using RFID, which could cause the prices of the tags to drop to five cents each, making it a more affordable solution for many.

Jamie Hall is a middleware developer of RFID systems and Programmer for Big Blog Media. And writes for RFID Factfile

Amalgamation Of Metal Containers With Rfid Technology

RFID and metal containers do not complement each other well, until we don?t know the scientific method of implementing RFID. So it is possible to use them together with reliable results if proper application is known.

Metal containers are desirable because of their certain distinguishable properties like- they are safe, strong, long-lasting, reusable and shielding. But it is generally assumed that metal containers are headache to manage and track to, also to get permission from environmental agency to use and track them. However by use of mobile asset management solution the metal containers can be managed properly and tracked with RFID technology. The answer to its successful application is ? use of science.

Problems faced

Radio waves have the property of being absorbed by water at ultra-high frequencies and revert back by the metal surface. For example our body contains saltwater therefore serves as a shield against RFID waves. Generally metal interferes with RFID signals thus pose a challenge for supply chain that is RFID enabled. The effectiveness of the RFID field is reduced when the eddy currents are produced by metal in the surrounding area of the RFID reader antennae as it absorbs radio frequency energy. A magnetic field is formed by these eddy currents which is perpendicular to the metal surface. Due to this field, the reader field is cancelled.

Detuning

Metal surface causes electromagnetic friction which results into energy depletion thus reduction of performance, and detune of reader and tag antenna. RFID which is installed in heavy metal surroundings could reduce the ranges, reliabilities and actual read & write rates. These reductions are more than what is experienced in controlled lab condition of RFID pilots. However these problems can be overcome by the usage of proper scientific designed and engineered system. Companies are looking forward to this system solution.

In the area of supply chain management RFID technology is being used in a metal environment to track and manage high-value, reusable mobile assets and their contents. Mobile assets are used to carry raw materials, work in progress and the final finished goods in supply chains. These mobile assets are however expensive and also its contents are also expensive and time critical. RFID is useful in many manners, the information produced by it can be used to improve the planning and execution of the distribution channel.

Advantages

RFID technology helps in reduction of loss rates, maintenance costs, distribution costs, and better customer service. It facilitates in identifying market trends and reduction of selling price of the goods. Companies can even bring into line the rates of the container with the assessment stream resultant from the investment in the container, its release and the technology included. Most of the companiesusing RFID system were found to be using this technology for asset tracking as it provides the return on investment to the manufacturer.

A combination of asset acquisition and management services with technology and RFID facilitates to discover and eliminate the hidden costs of supply chain which includes assets, transportation costs, finished goods, product waste and inventory. Most of these management services work on pay-per-use basis, it enables the companies to improve the quality of customer service and also minimizes operating expenses and manages asset contents successfully.

Certain mobile asset management solution providers do offer RFID of low cost which could be installed in surroundings with high metal content. The worth of RFID is produced by the resolution provider from the consequent generation of enhanced trade rules that results efficient procedure and process.

Conclusion

To conclude usage of RFID tracking technology can be used successfully in environment with high metal content. Mobile asset management solution providers have solved this problem to a great extent by experimenting and introducing system with advanced design and engineering. Therefore it is beneficial to for companies to adopt RFID tracking technology.

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Let the RFID Cycle Begin - Intemec

Let the RFID Cycle Begin - Intermec

RFID a great growth market

A new revolutionary technology is forming called RFID or Radio Frequency Identification. This technology greatly improved the ability to track items, any item. The current leading market solution uses a one way system where, for example, a simple "bar code" at your local grocery store where the grocery clerk has to run the bar code over a scanner. These readings are very man-hour intensive as each individual item must be scanned RFID is a two way system where a reader could scan every item at a Wal-Mart (WMT-48.14) store. Then each item with a RFID tag would respond or "chirp" back to the reader. Using the two way RFID system a single person could take complete inventory of a store almost eliminating all the man-hours of manual inventory. A reader mounted on a fork lift truck would track each item the hyster moves into the warehouse. The RFID will allow a single person the ability to inventory unlimited amounts of items.

Using our simple forecasting theorem which mathematically helps us forecasts how successful technologies will be; our approach signaled that RFID will be revolutionary.

Please refer to forecasting a revolution Multiplication of Moore's law http://www.durig.com/duriglaw.html .

Here are some of the many uses of RFID. Tracking gamblers at a black jack table so the house knows who's betting big, tracking prisoners in a jail to see who was involved in a scuffle, tracking prescription drugs for counterfeit, tracking cattle for mad cow disease, tracking cars so police could immediately identify a stolen car or a car with outstanding issues. More examples, tracking passports to see if the picture is correct, tracking products for Wal-Mart to almost any store and warehouse, tracking the Department of Defense inventories for most items, Boeing can track parts for building aircrafts and Ford tracking parts for it automobiles. It appears that both the scope and magnitude at this time is limitless.

Industries tracking consumer goods from shoes to cement blocks to frozen food to cars, including boats, planes, parts and supplies can utilize it in all aspects from manufacturing, inventory and shipping to retail outlets.

Judging from our theorems, RFID will see revolutionary growth to the likes of the cell phone, Personal Computer and the Internet that also at the beginning of their cycles scored extremely high.

IdtechEx forecast

From IdtechEx, the market for RFID is to grow from 2.7 billion in 2006 to 12.3 billion in 2010. The value is expected to be about 26.2 billion in 2016 or ten years to grow almost 10 times.

Selecting the company that could lead that market

Identify the correct market to invest is only part of the challenge. Possibly the bigger challenge is to identify the company that will lead this technology. This is where we have identified Intermec. Intermec is one of the leading companies in bar codes. Over the last few years Intermec has been focused on developing products that would comply with the new Gen 2 RFID standard rather than introduce products that supported the older Gen 1 Class and 0 Class protocols. This strategy has allowed Intermec to utilize its roughly 149 patents to allow Intermec to extract royalties from the entire RFID industry and appear to be essential when utilizing the Gen 2 RFID standard. The Gen 2 RFID standard and Intemec's patents are very co-depended of each other. In my opinion Intermec is gaining an integration monopolistic position.

Why monopolies have great success

Past monopolies have had great success from controlling the market like Intermec integrating their solution into and then helped become part of the standard. Compared to war it is the equivalent of having the high ground in battles - this approach is extremely valuable. Control in new revolutionary technologies is very rare. Our studies shows that in the past when companies achieved control they are usually able to hold it for 1-2 business cycles or from 9 -19 years. Some past successes that have demonstrated integration and or control of revolutionary products were Microsoft (MSFT-27.13) and Intel (INTC-19.78) in the Personal Computer, Cisco (CSCO-21.44) for the Internet and Qualcomm (QCOM-49.87) currently for Cell Phones. When I was young child IBM (IBM-84.32) controlled the standard for Mainframe and AT&T (T-26.81) the phone business. You can often see companies that are monopolistic in a revolutionary industry have a probability of achieving super wealth. Several monopolies we listed achieved the world's largest stock value.

Is Intermec a new monopoly?

Intermec or any company for that matter to have a chance to be great monopoly it must have a degree of control. The question is how much control does Intermec have over the RFID industry?

To answer this simple but very important question we devised an extremely effective test. Intermec claim's to be an integral part of the Gen 2 standard. The definition of de facto standard is recognized by all its peers as the standard.

Does the RFID industry recognize Intermec as the standard?

Companies like Symbol Technology (SBL-10.64), Zebra Technology (ZBRA-45.45), Philips Electronics (PHG-32.38), Texas Instrument (TXN-30.59) are some of the leading companies in RFID space that also have the size, technical background, law staff and other resources to verify or reject Intermec's claim. Accepting Intermec's claim means paying royalties to Intermec for years, you must understand if possible all theses companies would NOT want to pay royalties so their preferences is to reject Intermec's claim.

All the companies mentioned above and more have agreed that Intermec will receive royalties on every Gen 2 RFID product they make. No one wants to pay 2.5-7% royalty to Intermec to utilize the Gen 2 RFID standards. Especially leaders in RFID like Phillips, Texas Instrument and Symbol which all have a major leading position in the market, and their agreements with Intermec greatly validated Intermec's claims.

It was when the largest company and Intermec's closest competitor, Symbol Technologies, that created the biggest challenge to Intermec's claims. Symbol Technologies not only refused to pay early in the process, but sued Intermec asking for Intermec to pay Symbol royalties for their many patents and Symbol wanted their own version of the standard.

Symbol gave up their court fight and agrees to join Intermec's Rapid Start Licensing program. When your biggest competitor allows you to sign a controlling contract where Symbol has to pay royalties to Intermec every time Symbol sells a RFID hardware product. To me the Intermec/Symbol relationship Intermec has provided validation with a very high degree of control.

Many experts assign a similar agreement to the rise of Microsoft and the downfall of IBM when IBM accepted the Microsoft PC standard. I believe history will say the same thing when Nokia (NOK-20.52) then the largest cell phone company in the world signed and agreed to pay royalties to Qualcomm on all Nokia 3G phones.

It reminds me of a very old saying "the king is dead, long live the king" if you can dictate your will to the powerful companies your have a high degree of control.

Gutter vs. Shingles

Intermec is using their RFID control to establish what I call a gutter business. In Oregon it rains a lot and what we know are roofs. Water from shingles flow into a gutter. In some cases the gutter and shingles are co-dependent and need each other for the roof to work properly. First gutters have tremendous leverage. Second you could measure the number of shingles or measure the square footage of the roof to understand the amount of possible water flow or leverage the gutter might achieve We believe gutter based companies are far better companies to own. If you wanted fill a cup of water would you put your cup under a shingle or a gutter? It's my believe that by far most companies are shingles business models, but the gutter business model have far great potential to grow profits utilizing and leveraging the shingles.

In a few situations all the shingles combined could flow into a single gutter. A roof with a single gutter or a monopoly has one of the best business models and has a chance to leverage the entire industry to enrich its profits.

Intermec is possibly building this type of business model and has awarded the premier client of Cisco, and IBM while having alliances with Microsoft, Oracle and SAP. Companies that joined Intermec's Rapid Start Program and agreed to pay Intermec a royalty on every RFID hardware product they sell.

? Accu-Sort

? Avery Dennison

? AWID

? Datamax

? EM Micro

? Feig Electronics

? Hand Held Products

? LXE

? Metrologic

? Paxar

? PSC

? Psion Teklogix

? SAMSys

? Sato

? Symbol Technologies

? Texas Instruments

? ThingMagic

? Toppan Printing

? Zebra Technologies

All of these agreement occurred in 2005 after the new Gen 2 standards for RFID established in early 2005.

If we are right Intermec should have outstanding and accelerated growth for the duration of the Gen 2 RFID standard business cycle possible Gen 2 Standard last about 9 years based on many business cycles we followed.

Risk

Intermec's placement and degree of control in the Gen 3 RFID standard is very unclear, and will take many years from now to achieve any clarity.

A company could challenge Intermec's legal position. Even though Intermec has about 149 patents in the RFID industry the largest IP portfolio, a single company could sue making Intermec's patent unenforceable. Knowing that Symbol Technologies is well funded and a leader in the RFID industry and has attempted this and failed, it makes the hurdle even higher for a smaller less funded company to attempt this knowing that it would be a very costly approach.

Intermec appears to limit the companies that license their technology especially during their Rapid Start Program. If in future years Intermec is found to be a monopolistic company this could be very damaging in a court system. Intermec should give every company an equal chance.

RFIG Gen 2 is still not Intermec's core profit center and there are no guarantees that RFID will become revolutionary. Most all new technologies have gone through long incubation cycles before becoming mainstream which RFID Gen 2 will probably incur.

In my opinion the great appreciation will come when the royalties are the main profit center, and that may be many years if it ever occurs.

Conclusion

To summarize

1. The RFID appears to approaching a revolution growth cycle.

2. Intermec is the technology patent leader and has degrees of control over the Gen 2 RFID Standard.

3. Intermec is forming a gutter business model combined with a possible monopoly position giving Intermec the ability to have possible leverage over the entire RFID industry

If Intermec could achieve the three items above it has a chance to achieve

a: Modern Monopoly Effect.

A Modern Monopoly Effect is when a single monopolistic company achieves a stock market value roughly equal to all the companies' market value that supports the standard. In Intermec's case Intermec could achieve stock market values about equal to all RFID hardware partners businesses that supports Intermec Gen 2 Standard for RFID.

The water from all the shingles on a roof could roughly equals the water flowing into a gutter, a single monopolistic gutter named Intermec.

If Intermec becomes a Modern Monopoly Effect possibly it will become the fifth time we have identified and owned a Modern Monopoly Effect.

Randy Durig manages the Monopoly Technology and Monopoly Blue Chip Portfolio's He tries to own companies that measurably have control or monopolize their markets.

Monopoly Blue Chip Portfolio National Performance Rankings: 3rd

In the United States, Ranked by 3 year annual return , for Large Capitalization Blend, 4th Quarter 2005, By Money Manager Review

Durig Capital is a registered investment advisor. If you know someone that would like our research services just enclose the name, day time phone, and email or rdurig@durig.com or call toll free 877-359-5319

Randy Durig owns Intermec, Qualcomm and Cisco in discretionary client's portfolios and in his own account. Past performance is not a guarantee for future returns. All information we believe to be correct but make no guarantee to accuracy

For more information about monopoly investing please visit http://www.money-manager.us, http://www.durig.com,& http://www.investment-investment.us

Five Things You Should Know About Contactless RFID Credit Cards

What is a contactless credit card and how does it work?

For decades, credit cards have relied on magnetic stripes located on the reverse side of the card to store data. To transmit this data, the card must be swiped through a magnetic reader, making physical contact with the stripe. A contactless credit card, on the other hand, stores its data on a chip embedded in the card's plastic. This data is transmitted not magnetically, but rather via a tiny radio signal when the card comes in close proximity of a special reader at the checkout stand. This works through radio frequency identification technology, also known as RFID. When the chip comes close enough to the reader, an antenna on the chip is jolted to life by the electromagnetic field created by the reader, and transaction data is sent to into the system.

What are the advantages of contactless credit cards?

For starters, these RFID credit cards are much faster and more convenient than traditional magnetic stripe cards. A cardholder simply waves the card over the reader, waits a moment for the acceptence signal from the machine, and that's it. There's no need to fumble for cash, and with transactions under $25, there is no need to key in a PIN code or sign a receipt. Just wave and go. Also, since the card never leaves the user's hand, it is considered by some to be more secure.

What are the disadvantages of contactless credit cards?

Some opponents to contactless credit cards have contended that there are security risks with using these RFID credit cards, as the radio transmission could potentially get intercepted by a criminal with malicious intentions. The good news, however, is that the actual credit card number is not transmitted via radio wave. Rather, it is a unique encrypted code only good for RFID transactions. Also, just like ordinary cards, cardholders are not liable for any fraudulent charges.

Where can contactless credit cards be used?

Currently, Visa Contactless, American ExpressPay, and MasterCard PayPass are available at select retailers in certain locations in the United States, including 7-Eleven, McDonald's, KFC, Arby's, Walgreens, Sony Style, Wawa, Sheetz, CVS Pharmacy, and a variety of movie theaters. Retailers capable of handing contactless credit card transactions will have a special symbol on their credit card reader located at the checkout stand. RFID credit cards can also be used at any location that accepts ordinary credit cards, since the new contactless cards will still have a regular magnetic stripe on the back. Who offers contactless credit cards?

All new American Express Blue and Blue Cash cards now come equipped with the contactless feature. Also available from American Express is an RFID key fob that can be linked to most existing credit card accounts. Chase has teamed with MasterCard and Visa to offer Chase blink cards in a variety of styles.

Joey Loma recommends Find Credit Cards to apply for a contactless RFID credit card

BIGSquid RFID: Leading RFID Solution in India

BIGSquid RFID: Leading RFID Solution in India

RFID (pronounced as separate letters) short for radio frequency identification. It is a technology, which uniquely identifies objects automatically using wireless radio communications.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technique of distantly piling and recovering data by means of devices known as RFID tags. An RFID tag is a little object, like a sticky label, that can be integrated into a product. RFID tags hold antennas to facilitate them to accept and react to radio-frequency inquiries from an RFID transceiver.

What is RFID tags? What are the different RFID tags?

RFID tags are of two types: active RFID and passive RFID. Passive RFID tags dont have their own power supply. The little electrical current stimulated in the antenna by the inward radio frequency scan gives adequate power for the tag to send a rejoinder. Because of power and cost factors, the rejoinder of a passive RFID tag is essentially concise. It is normally just an ID number (GUID). Shortage of its own power supply crafts the device very small. Commercially accessible products exist that can be implanted beneath the skin. The least such devices commercially accessible measured 0.4 mm 0.4 mm, and thinner than a sheet of paper. Such devices are virtually undetectable. Passive tags have practical read ranges that differ from about 10 mm up to about 5 meters. Passive tags are cheap to manufacture.

Active RFID tags, ought to have a power source, and may have longer ranges and larger memories than passive tags, as well as the capability to accumulate additional information sent by the transceiver. The smallest active tags are about the size of a coin. Many active tags have convenient ranges of tens of meters, and a battery life up to several years. While the cost factors of passive tags over active tags are noteworthy, other factors including accuracy and dependability make the use of active tags very common today.

A number of nations have anticipated embedding RFID devices in new passports to ease proficient machine reading of biometric data. The RFID-enabled passport distinctively identifies its holder; in the proposal currently under thought, the RFID tag will also comprise a range of other personal information (More info http://www.bigsquid.org)

BIGSquid RFID

BIG Squid RFID is not merely integrating various RFID middleware (tags and readers) with our own products, but we have formed partnerships with other leading companies that enable us to provide supply chain solutions for various clients. BIGSquid RFID provides solutions to various industries like pharmaceutical, manufacturing, textile etc., across the globe.

BIGSquid RFID is similar to bar code technology by automatically collecting information about a product or transaction quickly, easily and without human error. Lets understand some common differences between RFID and Bar Code.

BIGSquid RFID and Bar code are both identification technologies that hold data that is accessed by some type of reader. In actuality, they complement each other very well and can be used effectively side by side in many applications. Bar code is an optical technology and RFID is a radio technology. However, unlike barcode technology, it provides a contact less data link, without need for line of sightfor example articles inside a cardboard boxor concerns about harsh or dirty environments that restrict the use of bar codes. Just like bar code, RFID tags are available with different memory sizes and encoding options. The ways these technologies exchange data account for most of the differences between RFID and bar code and help determine where each identification technology is best put to use. (More info http://www.bigsquid.org)

BIG Squid RFID uses an integrated microchip and antenna that reads information. The combination of the chip and antenna is called an RFID tag. There are two types of tags, and therefore two types of systems, active and passive. In passive systems, which are the most common, an RFID reader transmits an energy field that "wakes up" the tag and provides the power for the tag to operate. In active systems, a battery in the tag is used to boost the effective operating range of the tag and to offer additional features over passive tags, such as temperature sensing. The radio waves that are sent back and forth between tag and transmitter contain the data in the tag, and this data is then converted by the reader and transferred into a computer system.
Companies are focusing on passive UHF tags, which costs less than 50 cents today in volumes of 1 million tags or more. Their read range isn't as far -- typically less than 20 feet vs. 100 feet or more for active tags -- but they are far less expensive than active tags and can be disposed of with the product packaging. (More info http://www.bigsquid.org)

The Key Components to an RFID System are a number of components including tags of different sizes catering the different industrial needs, RFID readers and system software.

An RFID reader, usually connected to a Personal Computer, serves the same purpose as a barcode scanner. It can also be battery-powered to allow mobile transactions with RFID tags. The RFID reader handles the communication between the Information System and the RFID tag.

The BIGSquid RFID Software collects, permutes and stores the data collected from the tag in a back end like MySQL, SQL Server etc. This is usually similar to any other data collection software.

Company Profile
In Brief BIGSquid RFID is a technology company exclusively into Radio Frequency Identification Solutions. Our aim is to bring out high end RFID products that will help the business needs of various segments.

Our Team consists of experienced people from the industry with several years of R & D expertise in the field. To know more about our team write to team@bigsquid.org

Team lead Satheesh G Nair has over 14 years of engineering management experience in networking systems, computer systems and applications. He has been working on middleware technologies right from 1994. This exposure and understanding is the basis on which BIGSquid is built.

Satheesh is also the Co - founder of TrueBlue Technologies, where he built a enterprise mobile application technology company from scratch and managed the entire development process from product conceptualization to first customer ship. Products developed here are in commercial service in service provider networks around the globe. His background in building intelligent networking was particularly relevant to TrueBlue's future proof architectural model for next-generation mobile service and application delivery services model.

Prior to founding TrueBlue, Satheesh led a number of engineering development teams. These included the systems team for GISTROLON AG (a 51:49 Joint venture between ROMAG AG and SWISSTELECOM) in Switzerland and the innovative intelligent network management system for ECHELON'S LON based networks at Swiss telecom named Lontree. Satheesh holds Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Technology from University of Bangalore.

Please visit http://www.bigsquid.org to get more information on related topics. Contact us http://www.bigsquid.org/Contactus.html

RFID Privacy and You

RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) is a tiny wireless technology which has the potential to radically transform the commerce world. It consists of an inexpensive chip, often smaller than a grain of sand, which can be read up to several meters away. The hope among retailers, is that the technology can be used as a next-generation barcode, automating inventory levels, and thus cutting costs for manufacturers and retailers. While the technology does offer some potentially remarkable opportunities, it also raises some concerns with regard to individual privacy and corporate espionage.

While barcode-type RFID tags are not likely to reach consumers on a regular basis in the near future, there is little doubt that with the success of early trials, they eventually will. Consequently, concerns about privacy infringement with regard to RFID are important not only in the theoretical sphere, but increasingly such discussions have vital practical applications.

SPECIFIC PRIVACY CONCERNS

RFID tags differ from conventional barcode tags in a number of ways. It is these differences that create the benefit of adopting the technology, while simultaneously creating the greatest concern over the privacy issues involved. For example, under today's bar code technology, a pack of Wrigley's Gum sold in Houston, Texas has the same barcode as a pack sold in New York City or Ontario. With RFID, however, each pack would have a unique ID code which could be tied to the purchaser of that gum when they use an 'item registration system' such as a frequent shopper card or a credit card.

Continuing with the Gum example, the purchaser could then be tracked if he/she ever entered that same store again, or perhaps more frightening, if they entered any other store with RFID reading capability. Because unlike a barcode, RFID can be read at a distance of up to a few yards. Meaning that if you enter a store with a pack of gum in your pocket, the reader can identify that pack of gum, the time and date you bought it, where you bought it, and how frequently you come into the store. If you used a credit card or a frequent shopper card to purchase it, the manufacturer and store could also tie that information to your name, address, and email. You could then receive targeted advertisements by gum companies as you walk down the aisle, or receive mailings through your e-mail or snail mail about other products.

As the technology behind RFID advances, the potential for privacy infringement does as well. A more recent development is a study which reveals that RFID already has the capability to determine the distance of a tag from the reader location. With such technology already available, it is not difficult to imagine a situation in which retailers could determine the location of individuals within their store, and thus target specific advertisements to that customer based upon past purchases. In effect, that store would be creating a personal log of your past purchases, your shopping patterns, and ultimately your behavioral patters. While such information gathering would be considered intrusive enough by many consumer's standards, the danger that such information could be sold to other retailers, (similar to the way such profiles are currently sold regarding internet commerce), could create potentially devastating information vulnerabilities. While some RFID critics have pointed out that the technology could lead to some sort of corporate 'Big Brother' there is a more widespread concern that allowing RFID to develop without legal restrictions will eliminate the possibility for consumers to refuse to give such information to retailers.

COUNTER-MEASURES

Despite these and other such dangers, however, there are some steps being taken to mitigate these privacy issues. For example, a recent proposal would require that all RFID-tagged products be clearly labeled. This would give consumers the choice to select products without RFID, or at a minimum to recognize that the items they select are being tracked. For those unsatisfied with disclosure, there also exist a growing number of products designed to limit their exposure to RFID tagged products. One such product is Kill Codes a command which turns off all RFID tags immediately as the consumer comes into contact with them, thus entirely eliminating the effectiveness of the technology. Another proposal, however, RSA Blocker Tags, try to address privacy concerns while maintaining the integrity of the product. Under this technology, the item can only be tracked by that store's authorized reader, meaning that customers cannot be tracked outside of the store in which they purchased the item.

CONCLUSION

While some of the dangers posited here seem far-fetched and unlikely, the technology already exists and is developing rapidly to ensure that such hypotheticals can become realities. RFID tags have the potential to revolutionize the shopping experience by bringing us targeted products and allowing retailers and manufacturers to track purchases and shopper behavior more accurately and cost-effectively. The concern, however, is that if we are not aware and careful about the potential abuses of such technologies early on, we may fail to incorporate them at a time when the laws and mores of such a system are still developing, ultimately suffering the consequences later on.

Rich McIver writes for http://www.rfidgazette.org, a free informational resource on RFID. See http://www.rfidgazette.org/privacy/ for more information on RFID privacy issues.

Vibrational Energy and Solar Powered Net-Centric RFID Cargo Container Communication Devices

Is it possible to secure the millions of cargo containers that enter our nation from around the world? The numbers are so staggering and the potential ways to hide insidious WMD are huge. But with new technology, we may be able to bridge the gap and protect the American People from a horrific International Terrorist Attack. How so you ask?

Using RFID active tags that can communicate with the satellite and other nearby boxes this may in fact be potentially viable. Of course, the power source will have to be able to handle weeks at sea, without recharging the batteries. One way to do this is to use the normal vibrational energy on the trucks, ships and cranes to power up a small battery using electro-magnetic induction principles and or a combination w/solar as well.

What will it cost to do this? It could cost as much as $50.00 per container, which is a small price to pay and indeed, those costs will also be worth their weight in gold due to the economies of scale and efficiencies they will provide to the over all logistics, reduction in payrolls and information flows to shippers. Knowing exactly where a container is, anywhere in the world at all times, is the equivalent of UPS or FedEx tracking of your overnight package, yet even better.

Knowing within 3 meters where your container is, and if any weapons of mass destruction, contraband or illegal material is inside is power. The power of information and guess what, we have all that technology and more and we have it today.

L. Winslow is an Economic, Political and Technology Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net Currently Mr. Winslow is planning a bicycle ride from Canada to Mexico and in Spring across the US from San Diego to Virginia Beach to raise money for charity. Previously he was a track star athlete, private pilot, involved in politics, community volunteerism and a Franchising Founder. Mr. Winslow has chosen 100 titles of Books he wishes to write and has completed ten thus far. The subjects include; Community Planning, Future Tech, Franchising, Small Business, and Third World Issues.

Integrating RFID Into Your Packaging

Market forces such as the RFID mandates from Target, Wal-Mart, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) have many manufacturers and suppliers focused on RFID simply as a compliance tool, overlooking the significant additional benefits of automatic identification technology.

In fact, by design, RFID enables superior supply chain efficiency and inventory management, resulting in increased productivity and accountability, decreased shrinkage, and a more robust bottom line.

A packaging supplier who is knowledgeable about evolving RFID technology and applications is a valuable resource to help you maximize ROI with your RFID integration.

RFID systems are completely customizable with infinite combinations of hardware and software. Each system is comprised of a transponder, a reader and software. (Click here to read RFID: A Smart Tag Primer for a complete explanation of RFID technology.) In this article we compare several forms of the RFID transponder and discuss possible applications of each.

RFID transponders are available in a variety of mediums, including:

 

Smart tags

Chipless tags

Smart labels

Conductive ink

Traceless taggants

 

A smart tag is a microchip RFID transponder, which includes an integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna, encased in a protective coating. Smart tags most commonly contain a silicon-based IC and a copper coil antenna, although demand for less expensive tags has spurred the development of organic alternatives and chipless tags.

Smart tags can be applied to pallets, cases or item-level units at any point in the supply chain, or integrated into the product packaging at the point of production. They are readable through most materials (except liquid and metal) and many smart tag systems include anti-collision software, to enable multiple tags to be read simultaneously.

A basic smart tag offers a 96-bit EPC, which provides more than enough data storage capacity to track-and-trace items from point of manufacture to point of sale. Gen 2 tags offer a 256-bit EPC code, appropriate for specialized applications that require extensive data storage, such as the prescription drug pedigree.

Smart tags can be applied either externally to product packaging or imbedded within the package or case. They are unobtrusive and do not interfere with graphic design elements, making them an easy addition to most consumer goods packaging.

Smart tags can also be implanted in key chain fobs or rigid plastic cards. Automobile keyless entry and Mobil Speed Pass are two well-known examples.

A chipless tag is an RFID tag that transmits data via either a conductive polymer or a reflective material instead of an IC microchip. Conductive polymer tags operate the same way as RFID smart tags do, differing only in component material.

Reflective tags return a radio wave image to a computer that compares it with the identifying image on file for that item. A positive match means the item is correctly identified. Tags with RF reflecting fibers can be woven into paper or fabric for specialized applications.

Although chipless tags typically cost less than silicon-based tags, their use in supply chain management is limited by their inability to read multiple tags at one time.

A smart label is simply a label with an RFID tag integrated into it. An RFID microchip is sandwiched between a paper substrate and an adhesive, resulting in an RFID transponder that can be printed and applied like a traditional label.

Smart labels are frequently used for “slap and ship”, which is the term for affixing an RFID label to a case or pallet just before it is shipped from the supplier to the retailer. Because the label is applied externally (to the case or pallet) as the final step before shipping, benefits of “slap and ship” have generally been limited to compliance with retailer requirements.

However, if you think of a smart label as a flexible, printable RFID device, it is easy to imagine creative ways to incorporate it into individually packaged products.

Conductive ink, also called RFID ink, is considered by many to be the most exciting recent development in the printing industry. Precisia and Parelec are two of the companies that have developed conductive metal-based inks.

So far, conductive inks have been limited to printing RFID antennas directly onto labels and packaging through conventional printing methods. Research is ongoing to devise a method of printing the IC with RFID ink.

Use of conductive ink significantly lowers the cost of RFID tagging, and offers smart tag security with exceptional application flexibility.

The newest form of RFID tag is Creo’s Traceless® taggant. Traceless® is a powder that is mixed with ink or other fluid and applied to product packaging during manufacturing. Suspending the powder particles in fluid allows them to form a random pattern known as the “taggant image signature”. A computer records/retains this signature as the item’s unique identifier, like the EPC of traditional RFID.

When the item passes by a Traceless® reader, the reader first confirms the presence of the taggant powder (the pass/fail portion of the security test), and then matches the “taggant image signature” with the one on file for that item.

What really distinguishes Traceless® is that it is undetectable, making it virtually impossible to counterfeit or tamper with. Using proprietary methods, Creo mixes a ratio of taggant in solution that is too small to be perceived visually or chemically, and is detectable only by Traceless® readers.

From inventory management to anti-theft control to pharmaceutical pedigrees, RFID technology is revolutionizing the packaging industry. Awareness and education are the keys to maximizing your ROI with RFID.

Dennis Bacchetta is the Marketing Manager at Diamond Packaging, a leading folding carton and contract packaging supplier. He frequently writes on a variety of topics, including industry news and emerging technologies.

You may contact him at dbacchetta@diamondpkg.com or visit the Diamond Packaging website