Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 updated March 2013 RFID identification 1.What is RFID? 2.Some examples 3.How does it work? 4.Industrial uses 5.Other uses 6.Developments 7.Downsides 8.Security 9.Conclusion Tech Insect,

Applied Communications Technology Radio-frequency id tags n.a.shulver, March 2012 A wireless non-contact system Uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data to and from a tag A tag is usually attached to an object, for the purposes of automatic identification and tracking Some tags use a local power source Some tags require no battery and are powered by the electromagnetic fields used to read them

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Examples of RFID Tags in use Author: John Haslam, Stiles Machinery, wp-content/uploads/2010/03/RFIDLoad_02.jpg

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 How do they work? Tags emit radio waves (electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies) Tags contains electronically stored information which can be read from up to several metres away Unlike bar codes or QR codes, tags do not need to be within line of sight of the reader Tags can be inside tracked objects Many tags may be scanned simultaneously

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Use in industry An RFID tag attached to a car during production can be used to track its progress through the assembly line Components can be tracked through warehouses Livestock and pets may have tags injected, allowing positive identification of the animal RFID-based personal identity cards can give employees access to locked areas of a building

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Uses in industry An RFID tag mounted in a car can be used to bill the motorist for access to toll roads or parking RFID tags can replace the barcodes on library items Hospitals use both active and passive RFID technology – Active tags tracks high-value and frequently moved items – Passive tags track smaller, lower cost items

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Other uses RFID can provide start and end timings for animals, vehicles and people in sports – It can be very difficult to get accurate stopwatch readings, for example the London Marathon Some London colleges use an RFID card system for checking people in and out of a main gate – This tracks attendance and helps prevent unauthorized entrance RFID tags may also be used as parking season tickets, railcards, bus passes, hotel keys...

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 RFID Developments In 2007, Hitachi announced tiny dust-like tags (0.05mm squares) Each dust tag can store a 38 digit ID number Because of the lack of antennas, they can only be scanned from a few millimetres distance What would you use them for?

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 RFID Downside RFID is relatively expensive to install RFID tags installed in liquids and metal products can be very hard to read Forklift trucks, walkie-talkies, mobile phone towers can interfere with RFID radio waves RFID may be perceived as invasive technology However, many stores can deactivate RFID tags as the product is purchased

Applied Communications Technology Invasion of freedom? RFID may be perceived as invasive technology In some cases RFID-based personal ID cards are objected to on religious grounds, see: “Student Suspended for Refusing to Wear RFID Tracker Loses Lawsuit” The Judeo-Christian bibles contain some warnings about authorities that control people by forcing them to be identifiable: “… It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:16-17 As a corporate developer you have to tread lightly n.a.shulver, March 2012

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 RFID Security Issues Many problems are associated with remotely readable information devices No easy way to tell if you are being scanned Do you want people to know what library books you have selected? Or your bus ticket destination? Or your passport information? Tag data can be encrypted or just oddly encoded FoeBuD e.V.

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Other Ideas The Internet of Things – Uses RFID, barcodes, QR codes to uniquely tag everything – The physical world gets “digitised” – Location-based services for everything – Also see: “Weightless” But people in an urban environment have around 1000 to 5000 trackable objects each…

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Conclusion RFID tagging is important industrially At a consumer level, there are some security issues that can be solved, with care And other problems that really cannot be fixed Pervasive tagging has the potential to change how we interact with our environment Cheaper, smaller tags enable new applications Even mid-sized businesses are showing an interest now

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Further Reading RFID Chips Are Here, Scott Granneman, Dr Fun cartoon, D.Farley RFID or Barcodes: Which Are Better for Small Businesses? Anita Campbell, October 22, which-are-better-for-small-businesses.html which-are-better-for-small-businesses.html

Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 Further Reading What is RFID? (no author, no date) Dash 7 Alliance, 2009 (ISO/IEC RFID implementation) The Bellagio Gets Robbed, Justin Rohrlich Dec 15, wynn-casino-rfid-gambling-las/12/15/2010/id/ wynn-casino-rfid-gambling-las/12/15/2010/id/31714 Internet of Things, Wikipedia