Question

What are RFID tags? Discuss the privacy issues created using them. Some of the uses have been for personal ID, customer relationship management, and inventory tracking? Find a couple of unusual and interesting uses of RFID tags and list them.

Answer 1

RFID

RFID is an acronym for “radio-frequency identification” and refers to a technology whereby digital data encoded in RFID tags or smart labels (defined below) are captured by a reader via radio waves. RFID is similar to bar coding in that data from a tag or label are captured by a device that stores the data in a database. RFID, however, has several advantages over systems that use bar code asset tracking software. The most notable is that RFID tag data can be read outside the line-of-sight, whereas bar codes must be aligned with an optical scanner. If you are considering implementing an RFID solution, take the next step and contact the RFID experts at AB&R® (American Bar code and RFID).

HOW DOES RFID WORK?

RFID belongs to a group of technologies referred to as Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). AIDC methods automatically identify objects, collect data about them, and enter those data directly into computer systems with little or no human intervention. RFID methods utilize radio waves to accomplish this. At a simple level, RFID systems consist of three components: an RFID tag or smart label, an RFID reader, and an antenna. RFID tags contain an integrated circuit and an antenna, which are used to transmit data to the RFID reader (also called an interrogator). The reader then converts the radio waves to a more usable form of data. Information collected from the tags is then transferred through a communications interface to a host computer system, where the data can be stored in a database and analyzed at a later time.

RFID TAGS AND SMART LABELS

As stated above, an RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit and an antenna. The tag is also composed of a protective material that holds the pieces together and shields them from various environmental conditions. The protective material depends on the application. For example, employee ID badges containing RFID tags are typically made from durable plastic, and the tag is embedded between the layers of plastic. RFID tags come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are either passive or active. Passive tags are the most widely used, as they are smaller and less expensive to implement. Passive tags must be “powered up” by the RFID reader before they can transmit data. Unlike passive tags, active RFID tags have an onboard power supply (e.g., a battery), thereby enabling them to transmit data at all times. For a more detailed discussion, refer to this article: Passive RFID Tags vs. Active RFID Tags.

Smart labels differ from RFID tags in that they incorporate both RFID and bar code technologies. They’re made of an adhesive label embedded with an RFID tag inlay, and they may also feature a bar code and/or other printed information. Smart labels can be encoded and printed on-demand using desktop label printers, whereas programming RFID tags are more time consuming and requires more advanced equipment.

RFID APPLICATIONS

RFID TECHNOLOGY IS EMPLOYED IN MANY INDUSTRIES TO PERFORM SUCH TASKS AS:

– Inventory management
– Asset tracking
– Personnel tracking
– Controlling access to restricted areas
– ID Badge
– Supply chain management
– Counterfeit prevention (e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry)

RFID APPLICATIONS

Although RFID technology has been in use since World War II, the demand for RFID equipment is increasing rapidly, in part due to mandates issued by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Wal-Mart requiring their suppliers to enable products to be traceable by RFID.

Whether or not RFID compliance is required, applications that currently use bar code technology are good candidates for upgrading to a system that uses RFID or some combination of the two. RFID offers many advantages over the bar code, particularly the fact that an RFID tag can hold much more data about an item than a bar code can. In addition, RFID tags are not susceptible to the damages that may be incurred by bar code labels, like ripping and smearing.