RFID Is Everywhere

RFID - Radio Frequency IDentification - has been around for a long time. The idea was developed way back in 1969 and patented in 1973.

RFID is a system for identifying objects using wireless. There is a transmitter, usually called a ‘tag’, and a receiver or reader which picks up a signal from the tag to identify it. Tags are small and placed in objects, animals and even people for purposes of identification. They typically have a range of around 20ft although some have been developed with a much great range.

Tag Types

There are three types of tag. An Active Tag contains a battery and actively transmits signals. A Passive tag has no battery and relies on an external source to transmit. A Battery Assisted Passive (BAP) relies on an external signal to begin transmitting but it has a greater range.

With developments in technology, tags have become increasingly smaller in size, making them suitable for inserting into people and, of course, hiding in tiny places. And the cost of tags has fallen dramatically, making them ‘throw-away’ items. Needless to say, RFID is being using in surveillance and spying!

The main purpose of an RFID device is for tracking and object. When you 'tag' your dog or cat it's fitted with an RFID device. Ant-theft security tag in shops used RFID.

RFID can also be used in toys such as trains, for example, to let a part of the rail system know the train is approaching a specific point.

There are hundreds of uses for RFOID technology. Here are just a few of the more common ones:

* Product tracking

* Inventory systems

* Tracking animals

* Badge identifiers

* Children’s clothing

* Student Ids

* Staff identification

* Parking permits

* Transport payments

* Timing races (human and animal)

* Passports

* Payment systems

* Libraries for book tagging

* Systems which previously used a swipe card are looking at the contactless RFID system.

Although RFID has been around for a long time, it’s only in recent years that the technology has grown commercially thanks to miniaturization and lower production costs. You can be sure that new uses for RFID will continue to be developed and we’ll see more and more of the technology in our everyday lives.