RFID Tags

When RFID tags started gaining popularity the general view was that they would revolutionize the world and the industry. However, it did not happen and people were not so fast to accept RFID technology and its advantages. Nonetheless. RFID technology has evolved and new advances in this industry have been made.

The RFID industry is designing better systems and tags while ensuring the cost factor for both active and passive RFID tags reduce. It is a lot cheaper today to take advantage of RFID technology than it was ten years ago. The RFID tags have become smaller in size and have better batteries.

However, RFID technology is still a long way from taking the world by storm. If we take RFID tag use in Wal-Mart, one will realize that this giant uses it minimally. While Gillette?s dream for distribution and robotic factories has not been realized. Still, Gillette and the US military are taking this technology seriously and trying to find ways of using it better and more effectively.

The real challenge for the RFID industry, many say, could be the inability of the industry to produce the tags and readers cheaply and quickly on labels. If this can be done, then it would bring the RFID tags and readers at level with the bar code industry and will enable the retail industry to effectively use this technology. At the moment RFID technology is more popular with shipping and transporting companies to keep a track on consignment.

With companies like Horizon Components who have taken the RFID technology beyond the realms of shipping and transporting companies, the future for RFID technology is bright and optimistic. It will be real soon when we see this technology being a part of our day to day life.

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Nissan Chooses WhereNet Locatable Active RFID System

Nissan North America, Inc. announced earlier that it will be using WhereNet Locatable real-time locating system (RTLS) technology to automate both its inbound supply chain and outbound delivery chain.

The automaker partners with WhereNet Corp., a leader of wireless solutions, to strengthen continuous improvement initiative at its four-million square foot assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi. Said partnership is aimed at improving the North American vehicle production, labor productivity, and auto parts Nissan quality.

"Amidst soaring demand and several new model introductions each year, the WhereNet system gives Nissan the agility to manage its inbound supply chain on a just-in-time basis to support flexible manufacturing processes. In addition, WhereNet assists on the outbound side by automating predelivery processes to bring more new vehicles to the marketplace faster," said Chantal Polsonetti, vice president of manufacturing advisory services for ARC Advisory Group.

The Canton assembly plant of the automaker is capable of producing 400,000 vehicles annually. It assembles Nissan Maxima auto parts and other significant vehicles of the automaker. Nissan Altima sedan, Armada and Infiniti QX56 SUVs, Quest minivan, and Titan full-size pickup truck are also produced in said plant.

"As one of the most efficient vehicle manufacturers in North America -- according to the 2006 Harbour Report -- Nissan is setting the standard for manufacturing by embracing new technologies like WhereNet to continuously improve processes," said Tom Bacon, vice president of the automotive division for WhereNet. "WhereNet's locatable active RFID system provides a critical foundation for flexible manufacturing as it enables automakers to manage multiple models with meticulous precision, ensuring that the right part is delivered to the assembly line just in time. In addition to helping manufacturers maintain a lean inbound supply chain, WhereNet also drives efficiency on the outbound side, accelerating delivery of new vehicles to dealers through our industry-first, automated VTMS solution."

In the partnership with WhereNet, Nissan also expects to reduce labor cost, on-site dwell time for parts and vehicles, improve responsiveness to customers, and to produce high-quality vehicles as ensured by the system. This is because the system also immediately detects quality defects in vehicles hence; rework costs will be prevented.

As a manager of one of the largest auto store in Springfield,Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a certified car enthusiast.

The Disadvantages of RFID Credit Cards

RFID credit cards are taking the nation. Also known as Radio Frequency Identification, RFID for short, these cards allow you to make purchases with your credit card without even having to type in a pin number, swipe your card through a reader, or even sign for the sale. Instead, a coil radio transmitter insider your card?imagine how small it must be!?sends out a tagged radio signature, that then gets transformed by the way you move your finger over the card.

In essence, your personal way of "swiping" your card with your finger gives the signal a distinct "shape" that acts like an electronic fingerprint. In theory, no one else could have this electronic fingerprint. It?s not so much theory anymore. Some credit card companies are already experimenting with RFID technology. You can use them at gas stations, convenience stores, maybe even vending machines.

But is this technology as secure as all the experts say it is? It may be, but the thought of not signing for your purchase may make you have the heebie-jeebies. Also, usually with regular credit cards, the cashier is supposed to look at your card and compare signatures, to make sure you are you, each and every time you make a purchase. With RFID cards, you forgo this extra step of security.

Another issue with RFID cards, and one you won?t hear the credit card companies make, is that RFID cards make it possible to too easily to spend and drive up your debt. If all a person has to do is wave their card at the fast food restaurant, to get gas, to buy that expensive new flat-screen televisions set, then chances are they may start waving their card more and more. In the long run, that will make a ton more money for the credit card companies. But for the buyer, that could mean a long lifetime of living in debt.

Another potential issue with RFID technology is that it could be the next wave of the future for everything from passports to security to get into buildings. It could be used possibly to even track your movements throughout the day, the week, and the year. Just imagine?your car, every building that you enter into, your house, your work?all of them have RFID security technology. That makes for a chance for Big Brother to keep an eye on you. A scary thought, and pretty far-fetched, yes, but a possible reality none the less thanks to RFID.

Joshua Shapiro recommends Find Credit Cards to find a Citibank credit card offer that?s tailored to suit your financial needs. See http://www.findcreditcards.org/issuer/citibank.php for more information.

joshuashapi@gmail.com

RFID Tags Imbedded in Congressmen

We seem to have a real problem with our United States Senators, Congressmen and Politicians these days. We have scoundrels in the midst who are taking bribes from Lobbyists and prescription drugs too in trade for votes.

One insider at a party in Washington DC said the Kennedy Kid in Rhode Island has been addicted to prescription drugs for many moons and he is getting them from a lobbyist in the Pharmaceutical Industry? Is this true? Well, hard to say, as it is only a rumor and rather than get the Kennedy Kid in any more hot water my question is who else are the Big Pharma Lobbyists given drugs too?

You see America we have a problem when the drug suppliers are lobbyists or Doctors to Congressmen and we need to know what other favors these little scum are getting in return? Remember the Defense Contractor Lobbyists trading gifts and cash to the Congressman in San Diego?

Well if lobbyists are giving away free drugs instead of money, well you might say it is the same basic idea only they are saving a boatload of money as a Congressman’s ethics go for quite a lower price tag. So, speaking of tags, lets just put a satellite enabled RFID Tag under the skin of every congressman to see where they go and who they meet with and we may as well chip all the child molesters too? Consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

RFID Tags Read for 69 Feet

We now have RFID Tags that can be read from 69 feet, not just any RFID Tags or using just any system, no this system and these tags were designed by Hackers at the annual Defcon Conference in Las Vegas Nevada. No matter who designed it, it works and one of the biggest problems with RFID in the passive type tags was range. Having a system, which can read them from afar or thru containers means additional security can be achieved in the transportation industry. This means we can use them in cargo containers, trucks and shipping containers. Imagine a truck driving down the freeway and the SmartHighway reads what is inside. Not just what is inside, but every single package in every box, on every pallet; think of the possibilities?

We can use this knowledge to show where everything is at all times in our massive transportation and distribution network, which serves 300 million people. Imagine FEMA needing something, which just happens to be passing by on the detour route? Re-directing the freight can save lives. Having such instant information about our civilization can help shippers, distributors and system monitoring folks with real-time data, which can help us to streamline our system to the ultimate efficiency. This efficiency will give back to the whole of our civilization in increased profits and lower costs to our citizens.

Think about efficiencies available by the use of the next generation of RFID Tags, the future is here. Think about this, always be thinking efficiency.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

RFID Sensors to Protect Water Supplies

Recently the US Military has developed a special set of sensors for water supplies for troops. Any time a base camp is set up it is important to monitor the water supplies and test them. You cannot simply test them when you arrive you need constant monitoring so that insurgents or enemies do not pollute the water or put poison in it. The three most common pathogens of water supplies are; Vibrio Cholerae, e. Coli and Giardia intestinalis and believe me you don’t want any in your drinking water.

Two companies; Phase IV Engineering and Sporian Microsystems both in Boulder Colorado have developed a bio-sensor system which is RFID based. The device, which floats is connected to a Radio Frequency antenna and it is attached to a sensor housing which is submerged which is also connected to an anchor line. These water sensors can detect pollutants up to 1 part per million.

I propose these be used in the United States to protect our rivers and lakes, which contain drinking water. It is also important to have them in our wetlands and areas such as the Bayous in Louisiana and the everglades in Florida. Now then let us look at the efforts of the WHO, UN and World Bank; can we put these in third world nations to prevent waterborne diseases which kill millions of humans annually? If we can get the costs down significantly thru mass buying and economies of scale we are well on our way to eliminating the horrible issues that expanding populations in the third world face from polluted water and waterborne pathogens. As we see more severe and severe droughts in the world we will need to address these issues. We know have technology ready to be transferred thanks to our military expenditures thru DARPA.

We must continue to fund such research and boost such budgets of DARPA so that all of mankind can benefit in the offshoot transfer technologies. Think on this, something must be done.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington