RFid Blog

A leading provider of Dual-Active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) solutions, Axcess International Inc., has launched Active RFID identification system, which provides an automatic personal identification solution. The solution combines hands-free access control with a automatically monitoring ability for the movements of people through the facility.

The ActiveTag RFID identification system is based on patent ActiveTag RFID technology, which offers a variety of advantages like magnetic strips or proximity card readers. The technology allows users to read tags at distances over 35 feet.

The ActiveTag RFID identification system supports many communication protocols, including including serial (RS-232), network (Ethernet TCP/IP) and Wiegand (SIA 26-bit standard). The ActiveTag AVI system provides multi-tag read features, which allows users to simultaneously read multiple personnel tags. The system includes following components, which are given below:

Personnel Credential Tag: The personnel credential tag provides convenient, hands-free identification of personnel for access control, people tracking and resource management applications.

Antenna: It has different antennas for different applications. Each antenna is directly connected with the activator to create coverage zones for a variety of applications including asset and personnel tracking.

Activator: The activator is a stand-alone transmitter, which directly connects an application specific antenna to provide a low frequency activation signal. Then the activator writes its location ID to the tag, which is then re-transmitted along with the unique ID for providing precise location at the time of activation.

Network Receiver: It has serial receiver for network-capable general purpose, which detects tag signals, and convert them into data. Even it also forwards the information to a controller or host application.

Image Credit : Time Access

Via: Ferret

After Wisconsin, the state of North Dakota in USA has introduced legislation to ban forced RFID chip implants on humans. Not surprisingly, it is for the privacy reasons.

John Hooven, Governor of North Dakota has approved the bill that imposes restrictions on the forced chip implants on human skins.

It means the companies using VeriChip, a human implantable RFID chip form Florida-based VeriChip Corporation should follow self-imposed restrictions while implanting the chips on their employees.

Hoeven has rightly pointed out,

Ultimately, with RFID tagging systems, corporations will be able to monitor everything we buy, everywhere we go and, perhaps as these technologies develop, everything we say.

The recent developments in the USA show that other states are also moving forward to ban forced chip implants on humans.

I have with me the American Medical Association (AMA) report, which brings mixed response on the use of RFID tags in human skins, especially on patients to keep track.

At the very outset, the report claims that the RFID chips have not properly tested, even though the Food and Drug Administration has approved this technology in 2004 in medical use drawing a battle line between the medical practitioners and privacy advocates.

In the report ‘Radio Frequency ID Devices in Humans’, the AMA says that the most critical issue before human ID implantation is privacy. The patients must be ensured that the data collected by using RFID chips will be kept in secrecy.

They must also be protected from embarrassment, potential social discrimination, loss of health care coverage, or other detrimental consequences.

However, the report did not ignore the benefits of RFID technology in the healthcare units. The chips can encourage timely identification of patients and expedite access to their medical information. As a result, there would be minimal error and adverse drug events.

The report concludes:

RFID technology has the potential to improve patient care as well as patient safety. However, the safety and efficacy of human-implantable RFID devices has yet to be established. Therefore, the medical community should support further investigations to obtain the data necessary to make informed medical decisions regarding the use of these devices. The medical community should also be sensitive to potential social consequences of RFID devices, such as non-medical applications in law enforcement.

Read AMA Report and Recommendation:

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Millipore has shown the practical applicability of RFID technology in the pharmaceutical units when it embedded RFID technology in the filtration products for the first time.

The filtration products are used for the production of biopharmaceutical drugs for the healthcare units. Millipore Corporation will officially announce the RFID capability at the forthcoming INTERPHEX 2007 Conference. It will be known as Smart Technology.

The RFID-enabled filtration products have distinct advantages of providing real-time information about the manufacturing process, product performance and other retrieving critical information.

Billerica, Mass.-based Millipore says this information will assist customers to ensure regulatory compliance and make recording and conveying manufacturing data faster and more reliable.

A leading provider of RFID enabled asset management and supply chain solutions; Fluensee has launched the latest version of browser based yard management solution, named Fluensee Yard solution, which boasts enhanced planning, management and RFID visibility capabilities that makes easy for companies to manage the largest and most complex yard environments.

The new RFID enabled Fluensee Yard software consists an enhanced user interface, which provides a new level of visibility into yard and labor productivity. The comprehensive management software enhances RFID and real-time locating technology to find and manage trailer movements around the yard.

Yard comes with RFID readers, on-board computers with GPS, which allows users to capture real-time trailer information and conduct drive by inventories and instantly communicate the information to the server. The features of Yard are given below:

Real-Time Locating System: It uses RFID and RTLS technology to locate and control trailers and containers to eliminate manual data capture at the gate, yard and remote locations.

Gate Processing and Security: The yard uses RFID technology to support the receipt and exit of equipment into the yard. It reduces check-in and check-out times and also improves security.

Scheduling and Task Management: The software will dynamically assign to work across all current and future jobs through on-board terminals to the optimal yard trucks based on real-time yard conditions and priorities.

Yard Planning and Modeling: The software provides a graphical interface to assist with building effective yard plans. It also enforces rules and streamlines overall yard operations.

Reporting: It provides a variety of management and operational reports, including inbound/outbound shipments, carrier performance, dock productivity, yard utilization, etc.

Image Credit: Market Wire & Fluensee

Via: Managing & Automation

We are still reluctant to admit that RFID technology has gone mainstream. However, T3Ci’s achievement may change our perception.

T3Ci has scripted a glorious record by completing the billionth RFID tag read in the month of February this year. Processing billionth tag read is certainly a landmark achievement for T3Ci in particular and RFID industry in general.

T3Ci, which has pioneered itself in areas of RFID analytics and applications, required three years to process the first billion reads for its 30 customers who reap the benefits of RFID technology in their respective fields. The company says its customers have snowballing revenues of more than $700 billion.

The company claims,

We’re no longer working only on pilot projects with our customers; we have proven the business case for RFID, and we are focusing on rolling out scalable programs that become business-as-usual for our customers.

T3Ci uses RFID technology to analyze the data from product manufacturers and their retail partners. It increases productive of the companies.

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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has endorsed a Bill that bars forceful implantation of RFID tags into human skins. The Bill will come into force from January next year. The newly enacted legislation restricts companies from forcing their employees to wear RFID tags. The governor signed the debatable Bill this week.

Are you worried whether your child is in school or not? Now, RFID technology will tell you the whereabouts of your child inside a school. UK has just undertaken a pilot project, in which school children are tagged with RFID chips.

According to the Information Week, Doncaster-based Hungerhill secondary school has introduced RFID to keep track on the children as an effective step to control behavior of the kids and enhance attendance. The RFID chips are being attached in the school uniforms.

The project has been introduced as an experimental basis involving ten students who wear RFID-enabled uniforms. If the project proves successful, then it will be extended to all the students and perhaps to other British schools.

As we have often argued that human tagged is not acceptable under any conditions due to the privacy factors. The same logic is also applicable here.

A children’s advocacy group, Leave Them Kids Alone has sharply criticized the recent move taken by the Hungerhill School.

It’s founder David Clouter strongly noted,

With pupils being fingerprinted and now this it seems we are treating children in a way that we have traditionally treated criminals.

Mirror mirror, show me the truth and give me suggestions on how to look good! We have been witnessing RFID tags for some time now. But the thrilling news is that the RFID reader on a mirror in the trial rooms not only track the cloths that have been brought out from the warehouses but also they can suggest us what other clothing would match it. Isn’t it slightly spooky as well?

The Galeria Kaufhof, a German department store, in Essen, is using this new technology, not only to track the clothing but also to suggest the customer other matching attires. This technology runs on the permutation and combination theory.

A new half size aluminum RFID inlay would be available in next month, according to Omron Corp, one of the global leader in automation, sensing and control technology. The new half -size HF (13.56MHz) aluminum RFID inlay is approximately 50 percent smaller than its current card sized product. The second product is based on Omron’s V730 HF aluminum range and it is compliance with ISO/IEC 15693 standards.

Omron’s existing card-sized HF aluminum inlay is slightly smaller than an average business or credit card. The extension of aluminum coil antenna RFID inlays includes two HF types and three UHF band types. Initially, Omron has launched aluminum based inlays to complement its copper based products. Now, both aluminum and copper-based RFID inlays are available in card size as well as half size formats.

The HF RFID inlays are used in library management systems, where they are used in labels attached to books. While the card sized labels are used in Europe and Japan, and half size labels are used in some parts of Asia Pacific. The company is cooperating with other companies to provide converted products, including laminated inlays and plastic tags. Additionally, the company is committed to respond flexible customer requests for aluminum-based inlays in formats and shapes other than card-size and half-size.

Image Credit: System & RFID products

Via: Tech On