RFID TECHNOLOGY

The Wave of the Future

Outline
History

of RFID Types & Systems Current Uses Future Applications Controversies

What is RFID?
A technology that employs a microchip with an antenna that broadcasts its unique identifier and location to receivers. Employs a microchip called a smart tag, broadcasts unique 96-bit identifier to receiver. Receiver relays the data to a computer.

RFID vs. Bar Codes

Does not require human to manually pass item over scanner. More accurate inventory count. Can be incorporated into product, person, animal. Can track each individual item.

History of RFID

1939
IFF Transponder Used by allies in WWII

1945
Leon Theremin Espionage tool for Soviet Union

History cont.

1973
Claims U.S. patent was first true ancestor

1980
Retail Use of RFID in tracking and access applications appeared Price, color, date of purchase

RFID Tags

Contains two main parts:

Silicon chips Antennas

Components enable tags to receive and respond to radio frequencies queries from RFID transceivers. Three types:

Passive Semi-Passive Active

Passive Have no internal power supply Electrical current inducted in antenna by the incoming signal proves power for integrated circuit in tag to power up and transmit response Very Small, Limited Range, Unlimited Life Semi Passive Similar to passive tags, with the addition of a small battery Battery powers the integrated circuit Bigger, Longer Range, Limited Life Active Have their own internal power source Many operate at fixed intervals Also called beacons (broadcast own signal) Large ( coin), Much larger memories, Longer range

RFID Tags cont.

RFID System

Objects equipped with RFID tag Tag contains transponder with digital memory chip. Interrogator: an antenna packaged with transceiver and decoder. emits signal activating tag. Reader detects activation signal, decodes the data on the tags silicon chip. Data passed to host computer.

Growing Technology
Line of Sight Technology RFID superior over Barcode

Elements and accidents can disturb or damage barcodes

Best Buy, Wal-Mart, And Target began implementation

Efficient in ability to track & respond accordingly

Current Uses
Wal-Mart now requires its suppliers to use RFID tags on shipping crates and pallets to improve inventory management in the supply chain. Fed Ex bought RFID-enabled aircraft from Airbus to reduce maintenance time and costs. Cattle and farm animals are being tagged to improve tracking and monitoring of health.

Current Uses cont.

U.S. Department of Defense to better track goods along supply chain (logistics and inventory). Electronic payment credit card companies moving to RFID-enabled cards to increase efficiency and reduce time at point-of-sale for customer, merchant, and card issuer.

The Future of RFID

Medical Drug Counterfeiting

Tracking & Tracing

Medical Passports
Foster Care System

Food Chain Precautions Shopping Cashier-less check out and payment

Household Technology Smart keys Intelligent washing machines Monitoring refrigerators Intelligent ovens/microwaves

Controversy

Privacy
Consumer Rights
Consumers should be informed if their products have an RFID tag.

Tracking of consumers (Profiling)

RFID chips withstand dirt and scratches and can be scanned from distances upward of 25 feet. Personal Information Leakage. Drawing the Line Need for Legislation?
Who Should Regulate?

Controversy cont.

Killing of RFID Tags

Tracking vs. the washing machine Options of killing after purchase

Medical
Implants/Personal Information
Verichip is a tiny implantable chip that holds medical records Bracelets to track infants in medical wards and elderly in nursing homes.
Used in animals for tracking.

Controversy cont.

Medical
Health Risks
Hard to remove once implanted. Long term effects unknown.

Religious
Mark of the Beast, etc.
The implanted RFID chip is certain to inflame Christian fundamentalists, some of whom believe that such chips are the Satanic mark of the Beast predicted in Revelations 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

Main Points
Slowly becoming an industry standard Speeds up the supply chain process Easier to manage inventory Continually evolving Controversial technology

Questions for you.

Define RFID technology? When was RFID introduced? What are two main reasons RFID is controversial? Name the three types of RFID tags? How are they currently using RFID tags? How is RFID Technology expected to effect households?

Questions?