Posts Tagged ‘RFID’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

B2B Web Squared – Web Meets the World of RFID, GPS, and Sensors

Friday, October 9th, 2009

This is an exciting time for anyone that follows information technology trends. There is not so much as a bunch of new technologies emerging, but there is a convergence of web-based technologies and real-world sensor technologies. Web converges with the real-world:

  • Web is Becoming Real-Time. The web is turning into a real-time, information-rich, interactive conversation between applications and people. This is because of technology phenomenons such as social media, search engines, cloud computing, and broadband.

  • Omnipresent Sensors in Real-World. The real-world is getting embedded with cheap, omnipresent sensor technology such as RFID, GPS, biometrics, cameras, and instrumental sensors.

Now people and software applications are interacting with web and sensor technologies in real-time. Tim O’Reilly calls this phenomenon “Web Squared”.

B2B Web-Squared Trends. Many large businesses and Government agencies already have “Web-Squared” initiatives in place. The most notable examples are in the areas of supply chain and Business-to-Business (B2B) eCommerce. B2B Web-Squared Examples:

  • Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is a pioneer in using bar codes and RFID technologies to keep near and real-time visibility of products and shipments. Many large businesses also use the web to exchange electronic documents with their suppliers.

  • U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The U.S. DoD has used active RFID tags as well as web technologies to track and trace shipping containers globally for years.

Both Government and large businesses are continuing to leverage both web technologies and sensor technologies to start to tag and track items down to the package and product level.

Opportunity to Expand B2B Web-Squared Technology to Small Businesses. With the costs of “Web-Squared” technologies going down and everyone becoming familiar with the technologies, there is a real opportunity for medium and small businesses to start using Web-Squared technologies. Passive RFID tags are now under ten cents, and cell phone GPS chips are getting down to five dollars a piece. We should start seeing a lot more initiatives and business services opening up for small businesses to exchange electronic business documents and information in real-time.


Back to All About Data In Motion.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Electronic Cash News | Comments

The Controversies With Human Automatic Identification

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Automatic Identification Technologies (AIT) such as RFID and biometrics are not without controversies when it comes to human tracking and monitoring. AIT is a great enabler and labor-saver in the areas of logistics and supply chains. Automatic Identification Technologies automatically identify containers, parcels, and products to provide real-time visibility of movable assets. The challenge comes when AIT is used to track and monitor humans.

Human Tracking and Monitoring. Most controversies with automatic identification technology are related to where AIT is used to identify and track humans versus just tracking assets. Major AIT controversies include RFID tags and privacy, National identity cards, and the Biblical implications of AIT being the “mark of the beast”. See below for a description of the controversies with automatic identification technologies.


The Controversies With Human Automatic Identification Technologies


National ID Cards. At least for the U.S., the idea of a National ID card has stirred a lot of controversy. The issue is that these cards could be used to control or at least restrict our freedom of movement. With the events of 9-11, National IDs are being implemented at the state level for driver’s licenses. Many future driver license solutions involve AIT such as bar codes, and RFID. See posting, National ID Standards Becoming Law, for more on National ID standards with driver’s licenses, passports, and what is happening Internationally.

RFID and Privacy. RFID tags have caused a lot of controversy when they are used to track or monitor the behavior of human beings. RFID tags do have the capability to infringe on people’s privacy. RFID tag capabilities that are disconcerting include: they have an unique ID that can be tied to an individual, they are able to determine the location and activities of an individual, and they can track people without their knowledge. See posting, RFID Tag Privacy Concerns, for more information.

The Mark of the Beast. In Revelation 13:17 it does say, “And no many might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast …” For people that believe the Bible, it can be interpreted that bar codes stamped on humans, human-embedded RFID tags, or human-embedded smart chips can be the “mark of the beast”. Recently a group of Amish farmers in Michigan filed a lawsuit claiming RFID chips required on cattle “are a mark of the beast”. See Wired posting, Bush Administration: Dismiss RFID ‘Mark of the Beast’ Lawsuit. Also, see Altered Dimensions posting, The Mark of the Beast, on more on this human automatic identification controversy.


Back to Automatic Identification Technology.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Electronic Cash News | Comments

RFID Logistics – the Tempest is Moving Out of the Teapot

Friday, September 25th, 2009

I have always thought Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology would revolutionize logistics. Well after almost two decades, the RFID revolution may be starting. For many years the question for RFID was it a Catalyst to Boil an Ocean or Make a Cup of Tea? Behind the hype and the promise, the ROI for many RFID projects were at best questionable. It appears now that RFID is turning the corner.

DoD Leadership in RFID Logistics. The US Government has done a good job over the years in helping to enable and commercialize emerging technologies and standards. This has included the internet, software development standards, scanners, wireless, and now RFID. I was involved in a lot of Department of Defense (DoD) RFID logistics projects in the ’90s. Most of these projects had to do with active RFID and web servers to track ocean containers. Over ten years later it looks like the investment that DoD has made in RFID logistics will pay off. A recent set of articles in the Defense Transportation Journal on DoD RFID Logistics provide a great overview of how DoD is enabling maneuver logistics for the warfighters. DoD is definitely leading RFID logistics in the areas of standards, software, RFID infrastructure, and enterprise integration.

Where RFID Fits in With Auto ID Technology. Bar codes and scanners are key Automated Identification Technology (AIT) enablers for managing logistics and supply chains. For decades, supply chain professionals have used bar codes to tag everything from a retail-level item to a shipping box to a pallet, and even trailers and railroad cars. With the advent of active and passive RFID tags, I expect bar codes will slowly be phased out for tracking and tagging everything from boxes of items to ocean containers. Bar codes will continue, at least for now, to be used at the retail item level. The key criteria for using a bar code versus passive RFID versus active RFID tag is cost and functionality required of AIT. Below is how to best leverage bar codes, RFID, and GPS for logistics and supply chains:

  • Vehicle Movement – GPS. Track vehicles that move assets using GPS.
  • Containers – Active RFID Tags. Track containers real-time in yards and docks using active RFID tags with RF ranges of 300 feet.
  • Asset Management – Active and Passive RFID Tags. Manage tool rooms, security items with active or passive RFID based on RF range required and affordability.
  • Pallets – Passive RFID Tags. Track pallets using affordable passive RFID tag with 3-15 foot RF range.
  • Boxes – Passive RFID Tags or Bar Codes. Track boxes with passive RFID tags or bar codes. Passive RFID tags now are affordable to track boxes with costs of under ten cents a RFID tag.
  • Items – Bar Codes. Bar codes are still the best option for tagging individual retail items.

RFID Logistics – Benefits. Below are the reasons why RFID offers so much promise for logistics and supply chains:

  • Reduces Clerical Errors. RFID gets the human out of the loop where clerical errors are about eliminated in terms of inventory levels and asset visibility.
  • Improves Asset Visibility and Utilization. RFID can give you complete situational awareness. If you know where an asset is, you can use it.
  • Increase Efficiency. People no longer need to be always looking for stuff, nor do they have to do inventories by hand. This frees them up to do their real job.
  • Improves Decision-Making. RFID give real-time information that enable better decision-making as well as reduces the decision-making cycle.

    For more on RFID being a change agent within logistics and supply chains, see posting RFID DASH7 – the Catalyst to Move The Tempest Out of the Teapot.


    Back to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology.

    Tags: , , , ,
    Posted in Electronic Cash News | Comments

    « Older Entries
    Newer Entries »