Groups 23 & 24

What is it? Radio frequency identification Small electronic device consisting of a microchip or antenna containing up to 2 KB of data Equivalent to a bar code, magnet on a credit card, or an ATM card Must be scanned for information to be obtained More efficient than bar codes May work efficiently up to 20 feet Source:

RFID CLIP

How it Works? RFID tags receive and send information through the use of radio waves. The data collected from the tags is passed through wireless networks to the main computer network. The RFID tag is programmed with information It uses an antenna of which puts out a radio- frequency signals Life span of RFID is extremely long(Decades)due to the use of no batteries RFID takes 100 milliseconds to read

History of RFID RFID technology has been around for over 50 years It’s been too expensive and too limited to be practical for many commercial applications. In the 1970’s developers, inventors, companies, academic institutions, and government laboratories were actively working on RFID, and notable advances. The 1980’s marked the time when RFID started to be implemented for use in transportation, personnel accesses, and animals.

RFID Until Now There are two main reasons why RFID technology has been overshadowed by other technologies First reason is most companies want to use UHF (Ultra High Frequency) technology because it offers a longer read range UHF technology is a relatively new technology Second reason is the issue of cost, RFID readers use to cost around $1,000+, and each product item needed an ID tag Companies would need thousands of readers to cover all of their factories, warehouses, and stores So the practicality for using RFID was irrelevant since the cost was greater than the return

RFID Tags Vs. Bar Codes Both are different technologies and different applications, which can overlap RFID tags do not require a line of sight to be read, but are read as long as they are within range of the reader A down fall they do have is that if an item is ripped or soiled it is unreadable This technology could be used to speed up self service lanes at retail stores and to reduce theft as well RFID tags will coexist with bar codes for years to come because bar codes are inexpensive and easy to use

RFID Tags Each tag has a microchip that can store a unique serial number for any specific product manufacturer If they can be made cheap, it can solve many problems with bar codes Radio waves can travel through most nonmetallic materials so the RFID tag can be placed inside the package for durability and protection from weather RFID tags were fairly expensive (20 cents each) the price has been reduced to 5 cents today and will continue to drop

RFID Reader Information The reader simply reads the serial number in the RFID tags It can operate at different frequencies … Low frequency ( less than a foot) High frequency ( within 3 feet) Ultra high frequency ( within 20 feet) With the help of batteries it can be read from a distance of 300 feet The reader is the medium between the RFID tag and the main computer system

Advantages Inventory Efficiency – because line of sight is not required to read RFID tags, inventory can be performed in a highly efficient method Return on investment- Though the cost may be high at the initial setup, the total cost of ownership will go down over the years and provide a ROI Cuts down time spent on scanning items at checkout RFID is able to track every item since each item has its own specific serial number

Disadvantages Is expensive compared to the Bar Code, due to the embedding of electronic components in the tag. However, with advanced techniques it is possible to reduce the size, and the weight of the tags Security Concerns – Because RFID is not a line of sight technology like bar-coding, new security problems could develop. High cost - Because this technology is new, the components and tags are expensive compared to barcodes. In addition, software and personnel support are needed to install and operate the RFID reading systems (in a warehouse for example) may be more costly to employ.

What Can RFID Be Used For? A chip the size of a grain of rice can be placed under the skin of a dog to track it if its lost Anti theft tags on clothing prevent stolen goods Some shipping companies use RFID to keep track of large shipping containers and equipment RFID allows for IPASS to pay tolls at highway speeds

Uses In Industry There are three main uses of RFID technology in industry’s RFID technology can track work-in-progress Just-in-time inventory Improve shipping accuracy It has also helped prevent internal shrinkage throughout the company

RFID Issues Possible health risks with electromagnetic waves Low frequency Massive lay off of workers Less jobs for less skilled More skills necessary to perform Improvement of worker safety Badge will allow only certain people access Could become RFID certified

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