RFID
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History and Background of RFID
The concept of Radio frequency identification has been around long before the idea was made popular by public recognition. With out even realizing it, the radar that was used during World War II was the basis for this invention. In 1935, a Scottish physicist named Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt created the radar system. The radar system uses an electromagnetic sensor to detect, locate and track objects that are a great distance away. Watson-Watt discovered that when the radar transmits electromagnetic energy towards its desired objects, it can track such things as aircrafts, boats, cars and even living things. Using a radar system was so vital during the war because it could identify fighter planes that were close by. There was one problem though. The station could not identify which planes were the enemy’s and which planes were their own. It was the Germans who discovered that if the planes roll their wings a different way, that it would make the radio signals different. Therefore, they could identify what planes were coming into their direction.
Since the war, there were multiple advances with radio frequency and how it would be use to track down all types of objects. Once it was established that these radio waves could track down items from a great distance, companies started using it to track stolen items. This method is still used today in stores to make sure customers pay for their items. In 1969, the RFID was presented to companies as a device that can be used in vehicle identification, automatic toll systems, credit cards and security cards. On January 23, 1973, Mario W. Cardullo made the first U.S. patent for the RFID. This RFID tag was the first of its kind to have a rewritable memory.
Types of RFID Tags
An RFID system is a tag that has a microchip with an antenna, and an interrogator (reader) with an antenna. The reader emits electromagnetic waves and the tag antenna is able to read those waves. The reader then converts the waves it received into digital information where a computer is able to decode it. RFID systems come in three different frequencies, low, high, and ultra high. Low frequency operates at about 125 KHz and can be read from a foot away. It is also inexpensive. High frequency operates at 13.56 MHz and is read from about three feet away. Ultra high frequency operates at 860-960 MHz and is read from ten to twenty feet or more. There are also three types of tags: passive, active, and semi-passive Radio-frequency Identification Systems. Passive tags are not powered by battery source but take power from the reader. The reader then emits electromagnetic waves that “induce a current in the tag’s antenna.” Passive tags are generally light and inexpensive. Active tags have a transmitter and are powered by a power source which sends signals to the reader. Semi-passive tags use a power source to run the chip’s circuitry but broadcast signals by taking power from the reader. Active and semi-passive tags are used for expensive goods that need to be scanned from far away, like railway cars, but are costly. The advantage of using RFID is that tags can be read from a distance, can be read in any type of weather, and can be read while something is in motion, where a barcode would not be able to do this.
Uses
Passports
In 1998 the first RFID passport was used in Malaysia. By 2006 they are now present in the citizens passports of the United States, Norway, New Zealand, and Ireland. Due to the numerous terrorist attacks, RFID is the perfect way to heighten airport security. RFID passports contain all of the information of a “regular” passport, but it also has a digital picture of the cardholder. One can access all of the personal information of a traveler without even touching the passport, as long as they have a reader. This helps security to thoroughly check the information of passengers, whereas before they may have overlooked something on their passport. However, this also means that anyone can obtain one’s information without the consent of the traveler. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID) (http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2004/10/rfid_passports.html)
Inventories and Products
RFID are becoming very popular today, usually replacing bar codes, because they give a wide variety of information about a product, which helps to inform consumers and suppliers. In 2003 Wal-Mart stated that every product their store carries must be equipped with a RFID chip. This would then give data about the product including, “where the product was made, what the components are, special handling requirements, and, for perishable products, when the contents will expire.” (Using MIS by: David M. Kroenke) This chip also helps with Wal-Mart’s inventory, helping to easily find data on inventory counts and reorder quantities. Walgreen’s invested $2.5 million into a new system that will hopefully increase sales. The RFID tags which are integrated into the displays will periodically send information to the store to tell them the improvements of sales based on the display, which will also help the store to decide when to either keep a display or change it to a new product. Now RFID is becoming extremely popular being used in libraries across the country to help locate and keep track of books when they are checked out. They are also being introduced into airlines, to help keep track of flies baggage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID)(http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/2031/1/1/)
Human Tracking
RFID can be used to locate people quickly and easily. In Denmark’s Legoland children are fitted with a bracelet containing a RFID chip, allowing children to explore throughout the park and not have the parents worry. If one does “lose” their child in the park, they can easily locate them by the tracking the RFID device that they are wearing. In Barcelona and Rotterdam there are nightclubs that implant a RFID chip into their VIP customers. This helps the employees of the club to identify them and they also use it pay for drinks. RFID also helps to improve safety by preventing identity theft. In Mexico 18 staff members were required to obtain a chip in order to gain access to a secure area. RFID is now beginning to become increasingly popular in hospitals. With more laws being passed to enforce security and prevent medical mishaps, RFID is the perfect solution to help keep medical records private, prevent mix-ups, and eliminate tampering with drugs. Patients will also be fitted with a personal RFID, which will allow doctors to easily access information about them including their medical history, the dosage of the medicine, and what their future plans are. (http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/protectingid/0,3800002220,39121670,00.htm) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID) (http://networks.silicon.com/lans/0,39024663,39129743,00.htm)
Transportation
RFID is perfect making it quicker and easier for people to travel and use public transportation. One example is the E-Z pass, which many people use to travel from Connecticut to New York and New Jersey. It is a pass that allows you to drive right through tolls without stopping to pay the attendant. Instead, you are debited for the amount you owe. Many systems have a pay as you go feature, such as the subway systems in New York, London, Chile, and all over the world. Many our concerned that this is an invasion of privacy, because each time your E-Z pass is debited you sending a unique signal which records where you are and at what time. (http://www.urbachletter.com/Archive/Privacy_0309_RFID's.htm),
Problems and Regulations
Regulations:
There are various regulations and agencies in every country that were established in order to oversee the frequencies used for Radio Frequency Identification. Some examples of the names of these agencies in different countries are:
o United States: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
o Canada: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
o Europe: European Radiocommunications Office (ERO)
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administration (CEPT)
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
National Administrations
o Japan: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
o China: Ministry of Information Industry
o Taiwan: National Communications Commission (NCC)
o Australia: Australian Communications and Media Authority
The only frequencies that are globally acceptable are low-frequency and high-frequency RFID tags. Other types, such as ultra-high-frequency tags, have different regulations across the world (www.wikipedia.com).
Problems & Concerns:
Although Radio Frequency Identification has many positive aspects to it, there are also problems with it that have surfaced across the globe. One problem is that there is not a global agency used worldwide to regulate which frequencies to use for what. Because different countries have different standards, frequencies used in one country do not work properly with those used in another country. Presently, the frequencies used in America do not coincide with those of Europe or Japan (www.wikipedia.com).
Another issue with RFID is the price of the tags. The current price of passive tags can range from 11 cents to $40 a tag. The hope is that the price of tags will drop to around 5 cents a tag, but that hasn’t happened yet. The technology for tag development is getting better, but without widespread use of RFID tags, it will be difficult to see such a drastic price drop in the near future (www.crmbuyer.com).
There is also an issue of personal privacy when using RFID tags, and there are several examples of this. If a consumer purchases a product that has a tag on it for purposes of supply-chain management, and the tag is not deactivated when the item is bought, the store may have access to the consumer’s credit card information. Necessary precautions would have to be made by the tag manufacturers in order to try and eliminate this potential problem (www.rfidjournal.com). Another example is in regards to passports that contain RFID. The RFID tags have made copying personal data from passports much easier. Also, the encryption used in the United Kingdom in passports to help protect people’s information was able to be cracked within two days, which raises concerns.
Steps can be taken to reduce these security problems. One popular means is to shield the item carrying the tag, or block the signal that causes the tag to work. Shield products can be purchased in the United States, but some high-frequencies can simply be blocked with aluminum foil (www.wikipedia.com).
Sources
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID
2. http://networks.silicon.com/lans/0,39024663,39129743,00.htm
3. http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/RFID/what_is_rfid.asp
4. http://www.britannica.com
5. http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/56599.html
6. http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2004/10/rfid_passports.html
7. http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/protectingid/0,3800002220,39121670,00.htm
8. http://www.rfidjournal.com
9. http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/2031/1/1/
10. http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/2439/1/1/
11. http://www.urbachletter.com/Archive/Privacy_0309_RFID's.htm
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