RFID And Bringing The World Into The Future

By Ruth Fisher


It used to be that in order to keep track of something, one had to use their eyes. Once it was out of sight, it was practically lost. But as society evolved, so did the tools used by humanity. Nowadays, keeping track of something is as easy as slapping a tag on it and using a CSL RFID reader connected, wirelessly or otherwise, to a computer.

Radio frequency identification, or RFID as it is more commonly known, is a system for the wireless reading of information. This is done via the use of tags which store information which an RFID reader then identifies. A passive tag will have no power source of its own and will instead rely on taking energy from radio waves emitted by a reader. An active tag will have more range and will have a power source such as a battery.

UHF stands for ultra high frequency. It is the frequency at which many systems essential to the modern world operate. The systems include mobile phone coverage, global positioning systems or GPS, and perhaps most importantly, Wi-Fi systems.

In terms of security, using chips and readers can have multiple tags. Using a lock that is connected to an reader, like the kind in hotel rooms, can greatly reduce unauthorized entry. In a retail space, items can also be tagged, which means that if they move past a certain point, security can be alerted.

RFID tags can also be used to track animals. Many pet owners will tag their fur babies, so that if they get lose, finding them becomes easier. Zoos will also tag their animals to make sure that they remain where they are supposed to be.

Like a lot of technology, the speculations regarding the future are endless. It is hypothesized that using an RFID reader and a tag can make shopping much easier. It works by having readers at the door. Each item in the store is tagged. When a person exits with their items, the reader then takes note of all the tags as well the credit card and then the credit card is automatically charged for the cost of all the items, eliminating the need for checkout lines and cashiers. A lower scale version of this is already present in some countries, with people using their phones to pay for items instead of cards of cash. There are also some medical application, as it is speculated that the chips can be turned into dust and then injected into the human bloodstream in order to monitor the health of a person. Then there are those who fear that the same technology used to keep track of animals can be applied to human beings.

Now, simply picking a reader is easy. There are many that are currently on the market. Picking the right one is the key.

Like anything else, price should be considered. RFID readers can cost hundreds of dollars for even the cheapest variant. The investment is good, but it is still a considerable one. Some RFID readers will have to stay outdoors. As such finding a durable one is key. A weak one will break easily and necessitate another purchase.

Technology has changed the world, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. But, mostly for the better. There are those whose lives will be negatively impacted as technology continues to progress, but there are many more who will benefit greatly.




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