September/October 2008

SEP/OCT 2008

Features

• COVER STORY
• EPC's Tipping Point
  RFID adoption is growing more slowly than many had forecast, leaving some to wonder when Electronic Product Code technology will fulfill the vision of a world where goods are tracked and traced through the global supply chain.
• VERTICAL FOCUS
• Pharma's Bitter Pill
  The pharmaceuticals industry will adopt track-and-trace technologies—likely including RFID—to shore up its ailing supply chain. But the cure could be hard to swallow unless business benefits, not regulations, pave the way.
• LAB REPORT
• What You Need to Know About RFID Tool-Tracking Systems
  Across industries—from automotive and aerospace production to oil and gas exploration and even the leasing of tools to customers—it's critical to have the right tool in the right place at the right time. Manufacturers that can't identify and locate tools efficiently often experience delays in production or, worse, total work stoppages.

Departments

• EDITOR'S NOTE
• EPC Adoption Rates Matter
• OUT IN FRONT
• RFID Can Stop the Presses
  Researchers at the University of Córdoba have developed a passive RFID system to protect workers from mechanical injuries.
• OUT IN FRONT
• RFID Pushes Pedal Power
• OUT IN FRONT
• Smart Plastic
• PERSPECTIVE
• Addressing Fears About RFID
  The industry and end users need to be proactive to alleviate consumer concerns that RFID tags can be hidden in clothing and other products.
• THE RFID MARKET
• To EPC or Not to EPC?
  That is the question on the minds of companies as they consider the benefits and challenges of deploying Electronic Product Code technology.
• PROIDUCT DEVELOPMENTS
• Robots No Longer Face an Identity Crisis
  Thanks to RFID, these mechanical helpers have a better sense of their roles, allowing them to be more productive.

Columns

• INSIDE THE LABS
• Increasing Read Ranges
  An EPC-compliant Gen 2 active tag is on the horizon.
• RADIO EUROPE
• Behind the Headlines
  Mifare hacking will not halt contactess ticketing for transportation systems.
• ASHTON'S VIEW
• RFID Power to the People
  Want consumers to accept the technology? Give them applications that make their lives easier.