Radio frequency identification ("RFID") is a technology that uses radio waves to identify things. An RFID system includes three elements a tag, a reader, and a database. An RFID tag comprises a chip that contains a unique number that identifies an object.
The simplest RFID tags are "passive" and they do not carry their own power supply to enable data transmission. Passive tags receive their power from the electromagnetic waves. Other tags like "active" do contain some form of power supply allowing the broadcast of information to the reader. Active tags are often able to transmit over a much longer range than passive tags like about 100 feet or more.
RFID technology can be mainly used for keep track of objects, keep track of people, to provide services, or as an internal component of a product or device.
RFID technology could be used in wal-mart as clipped tags instead of bar codes, it can be used in hospitals for the newborn babies, it can be used in an ambulance to locate the a patient, it can be used to find a criminal, and much more. But RFID can be dangerous in privacy concerns. RFID can be found in a person's credit cards, clothing, EZ-pass, and it can also can be found in a humans body. This RFID is able to find your location, personally identifiable information, and most of all, it can track you. So now you have be careful and make sure that RFID is not attached to you.
http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20060501rfid-best-practices.php
http://rfidprivacy.mit.edu/access/who.html
4 comments:
RFID is used to track practically everyone today by the government. Unless you stay primitive they can be in your credit cards, ID's, driverlicenses, even your clothes integrated in your fibers. Many people see this as a great security invasion. While it is not all for tracking people but companies use it to track shipments, locations, and in sports like race cars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID
There are two sides to this, a good and bad. It is bad that it can be in our materials, but it can be good if used in the right hands. Did you know most RFID tags contain at least two parts a integrated circuit and an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID
This is pretty cool. Also its performance is great because it will work in fog, snow, ice , paint, etc.
Even though this is an invasion of privacy it is a good thing to an extent because it is used to make lives safer and easier.
http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/RFID/what_is_rfid.asp
Grishma,
This is a great synopsis of RFID - what it is, how it works, and the pros and cons of its use. I agree with all the comments that the benefits are great: easy tracking of shipments, ez-pass convenience, and efficiency of handling goods. As has been pointed out, the downside is a loss of privacy. The real question is - to what degree are we willing to give up our privacy for convenience?
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