RFID Chips Everywhere

from the can't-get-away-from-'em dept

Roland Piquepaille writes "In "Hitachi develops RFID chip for bank notes, documents," IDG News Service said this week that Hitachi has developed a new radio frequency identification (RFID) chip which doesn't needed an external antenna.This opens the possibility to embed these chips into virtually anything, from bank notes to plane tickets. In "We Know What You're Buying," Slate looks at the possible implications of such devices which don't require a battery. And even if Gillette or Wal-Mart have more or less abandoned their experiments with RFID tags, another company is using the technology to replace badges with bar codes. In "SAP to show off RFID's potential," IDG News Service says that at SAP's TechEd conference, attendees' badges will include RFID tags instead of bar codes. More details and quotes are available on my blog, including a picture of the new Hitachi RFID chips sitting close to grains of rice." A note to correct Roland's assertion: Wal-Mart has not abandoned their experiments with RFID. They're still moving forward with using RFID for logistics purposes in the backend of their operations (which some are saying is a watershed moment for the technology). For the time being, however, they've set aside RFID on store shelves. Also, I'm getting less worried about the downsides of RFID after hearing about simple solutions to many of the problems, such as with an RFID blocker chip.
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  1. icon
    Mike (profile), 8 Sep 2003 @ 9:23am

    Re: Educate yourself !

    It's funny. You keep posting these sorts of things, but you never offer any solution. Meanwhile, we post stories about actual solutions to these problems, and you just spam us again. It doesn't make you look intelligent, and it doesn't make anyone any more interested in what you have to say. It makes you look like a nut.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Shawn, 8 Sep 2003 @ 10:05pm

    Re: Educate yourself !

    While I think there is a lot of positive potential for this technology and of course see how it can automate and simplify inventory tasks and control, there is a large movement pushing for what I think is MUCH needed regulation on when it comes to tracking merchandise in the hands of the consumer. They are also organizing a "virtual protest" around an ACTUAL protest on 9/15 in Chicago, IL. The site is linked above, but the URL is http://stoprfid.textamerica.com and worthy of a look.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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