RFID in Action 2006

Radio Frequency Identification RFID is the remote electronic reading of data on small devices called tags, using radio frequencies or thereabouts. It has few problems of misorientation or obscuration and it permits many tags to be read as a group. It is an enabling technology with the particular advantages of automating procedures, saving cost and reducing errors but it can also provide many other benefits.

 

Despite this, RFID was an answer looking for a problem for most of the time following its invention about sixty years ago. It was wryly referred to as the oldest embryonic technology around. No more. During the last few years, the number of cases of RFID in action has risen at an accelerating rate as has the money spent on such systems.

 

Today, there are thousands of RFID projects being trialled or fully employed and, so far, the unique IDTechEx Knowledgebase www.rfidbase.com has captured nearly 2000 of them.

 

In this report we share some of these and present the experience of the participating companies as well. The variety of RFID in action is remarkable, touching on aviation, healthcare, logistics, retailing, military and other sectors and, in the cases we have chosen here, involving anything from a few tags to fifty million in a given application. These RFID cases come from many countries and the specifications and standards used vary greatly. We purposely include case studies covering chipless, chip and active RFID technologies and those using a range of different frequencies.

 

RFID is clearly saving lives, reducing dangers, making life easier and even providing entertainment. We trust you will find these stories both educational and inspiring whether you seek to be a user or a supplier. The next few years will be even more exciting.

 

The price for this report covers handling and postage costs.

 

This report was sponsored by over 40 companies, and researched and written by IDTechEx with the support of GS1 UK, the UK provider of the EPCglobal Network.