RFID

RFID-based technology has been in existence for decades in one form or another, but only recently has it advanced sufficiently to make it cost-effective and usable on a broad scale. Most current RFID technology (tags, readers, middleware) is used in supply-chain management, with vendors driven by requirements of WalMart and the Department of Defense to create an enormous surge in adoption. In addition, biometrics and RFID technologies are frequently used together to provide contactless solutions for access control systems. This technology has been used in a small number of correctional facilities (US, EU, Japan) where the form factors have been designed to address special problems (RFID tags embedded in bracelets or within clothing, emit a signal if there is an attempt at tampering) and deliver specialized benefits (for example, RFID on officer’s belt transmits signal when in distress). Human implantable RFID tags are also available, and are suggested for use in situations where an individual may be incapable of identifying themselves (e.g., aged persons with some form of dementia).

Currently, there is a high level of debate in legislative bodies regarding the use of RFID, with serious concerns about the privacy implications created by embedding tags into widely distributed documents such as driver’s licenses, passports, visas, etc. In the US, a number of state legislatures have begun to set limits upon the possible uses of RFID, and research is being conducted by US federally-sponsored bodies on the technical and privacy implications of using RFID as well, though no specific legislation has yet emerged.
 

Key Applications:

• Supply Chain Management
• Identification Systems embedded in Smart Cards
• Asset Tracking Systems (including Fleet Management)

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