Difference between revisions of "Radio-frequency Identification"
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| − | + | '''Radio-frequency Identification (RFID)''' is a form of tracking technology used to tag and transmit data, and it is used in a variety of objects and locations. The two parts to RFID technology include the chips or tags, and the receiver or reader. The chips are miniature electronic devices with antennas that when signaled by a receiver will stimulate and wake up and either reflect the passive signal back, or broadcast an active signal, and the receiver is the device that sets off the chips then receives and interprets data from them. The RFID system makes it very useful to keep track of stock, and transmit small amounts of data wirelessly. RFID chip technology is simple and small enough to manufacture at a low price, so it is priced very reasonably, which is another selling point to these chips. Over the years, the price of RFID chips have gone down with increased production. Depending on the volume of chips purchased, the amount of memory storage, and packaging of the tags, the price per passive tag varies between five cents and fifteen cents, while active tags typically cost more than 25 dollars each. Passive chips are more commonly used due to its cheaper pricing, tiny size, and simple functionality. | |
| + | |||
| + | ==History== | ||
| + | The idea behind RFID dates back to the World War II era, where Germans would purposely roll their planes while flying back to their base so that the radio signals would be altered and could be identified on radar from their base as their own aircraft and not an enemy plane. In 1973, Mario W. Cardullo claims to have the first American patent of an active RFID tag and later paved the development of automated payment in toll systems around the world. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Applications== | ||
| + | These chips were originally implanted in livestock, credit cards, retail merchandise, buses, tollbooths and other products, but now these chips are becoming available in many drivers’ licenses, passports, inside cellular phones and tablets allowing them to be used as credit cards, and even injected into the skin of some humans. These RFID chips are being used in more places than ever, growing in usage every year. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Ethical Concerns== | ||
| + | There is no request of consent when private data from the RFID chip is sent to the receiver. By turning on the receiver, it can wirelessly activate the chip and receive any information stored on the chip that can even include names, addresses, credit card numbers, identification numbers, and other private data. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Dehumanizing by monitoring | ||
| + | |||
| + | Privacy | ||
| + | |||
| + | Examples | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/1338 | ||
| + | |||
| + | http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/10/11/rfid_tracking_texas_schools_force_kids_to_wear_electronic_chips.html | ||
| + | |||
| + | http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/rfid.htm | ||
| + | |||
| + | http://www.rfidjournal.com/faq/20 | ||
Revision as of 09:31, 12 October 2012
Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) is a form of tracking technology used to tag and transmit data, and it is used in a variety of objects and locations. The two parts to RFID technology include the chips or tags, and the receiver or reader. The chips are miniature electronic devices with antennas that when signaled by a receiver will stimulate and wake up and either reflect the passive signal back, or broadcast an active signal, and the receiver is the device that sets off the chips then receives and interprets data from them. The RFID system makes it very useful to keep track of stock, and transmit small amounts of data wirelessly. RFID chip technology is simple and small enough to manufacture at a low price, so it is priced very reasonably, which is another selling point to these chips. Over the years, the price of RFID chips have gone down with increased production. Depending on the volume of chips purchased, the amount of memory storage, and packaging of the tags, the price per passive tag varies between five cents and fifteen cents, while active tags typically cost more than 25 dollars each. Passive chips are more commonly used due to its cheaper pricing, tiny size, and simple functionality.
History
The idea behind RFID dates back to the World War II era, where Germans would purposely roll their planes while flying back to their base so that the radio signals would be altered and could be identified on radar from their base as their own aircraft and not an enemy plane. In 1973, Mario W. Cardullo claims to have the first American patent of an active RFID tag and later paved the development of automated payment in toll systems around the world.
Applications
These chips were originally implanted in livestock, credit cards, retail merchandise, buses, tollbooths and other products, but now these chips are becoming available in many drivers’ licenses, passports, inside cellular phones and tablets allowing them to be used as credit cards, and even injected into the skin of some humans. These RFID chips are being used in more places than ever, growing in usage every year.
Ethical Concerns
There is no request of consent when private data from the RFID chip is sent to the receiver. By turning on the receiver, it can wirelessly activate the chip and receive any information stored on the chip that can even include names, addresses, credit card numbers, identification numbers, and other private data.
Dehumanizing by monitoring
Privacy
Examples
References
http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/1338
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/rfid.htm
