Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 updated March 2013 RFID identification...
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Transcript of Applied Communications Technology n.a.shulver, March 2012 updated March 2013 RFID identification...
Applied Communications Technology
n.a.shulver, March 2012 updated March 2013
RFID identification1.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,http://www.techinsect.com/2011/04/rfid-radio-frequency-identification.html
Applied Communications Technology
Radio-frequency id tags
n.a.shulver, March 2012
A wireless non-contact systemUses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to
transfer data to and from a tagA tag is usually attached to an object, for the
purposes of automatic identification and trackingSome tags use a local power sourceSome 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,http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sheep%27s_face,_Malta.jpg
Stiles Machinery,http://www.stilesmachinery.com/solutions/ 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 objectsMany tags may be scanned simultaneously
Applied Communications Technology
n.a.shulver, March 2012
Use in industryAn 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 industryAn RFID tag mounted in a car can be used to bill
the motorist for access to toll roads or parkingRFID tags can replace the barcodes on library
itemsHospitals 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 usesRFID 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” - http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/01/student-rfid-suspension/
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 encodedFoeBuD e.V.
http://www.foebud.org/rfid
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, 2003-06-26 http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/169
Dr Fun cartoon, D.Farley 2003 http://larrinski.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/rfid-tag.jpg
RFID or Barcodes: Which Are Better for Small Businesses? Anita Campbell, October 22, 2010
http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/10/rfid-or-barcodes-which-are-better-for-small-businesses.html
Applied Communications Technology
n.a.shulver, March 2012
Further Reading What is RFID? (no author, no date)
http://www.uktelematicsonline.co.uk/html/rfid.html
Dash 7 Alliance, 2009 (ISO/IEC 18000-7 RFID implementation)
http://www.dash7.org/
The Bellagio Gets Robbed, Justin Rohrlich Dec 15, 2010
http://www.minyanville.com/businessmarkets/articles/bellagio-wynn-casino-rfid-gambling-las/12/15/2010/id/31714
Internet of Things, Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things