J.J. Faxon Andy Vu Dustin Beck Jessica Bentz Mandi Ellis RFID TECHNOLOGY The Wave of the Future J.J. Faxon Andy Vu Dustin Beck Jessica Bentz Mandi Ellis

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 1945 IFF Transponder Used by allies in WWII Leon Theremin Espionage tool for Soviet Union

History cont. 1973 1980 Claims U.S. patent was first true ancestor 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

RFID Tags cont. 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 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 tag’s 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 Household Technology Medical Drug Counterfeiting Smart keys Intelligent washing machines Monitoring refrigerators Intelligent ovens/microwaves Medical Drug Counterfeiting Tracking & Tracing Medical “Passports” Foster Care System Food Chain Precautions Shopping Cashier-less check out and payment

Controversy Privacy Consumer Rights Tracking of consumers (Profiling) 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 Medical 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 Religious 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?