Question: "I work for a power company in the United States, and I have an application I am interested in using RFID tags for. I am looking for an RFID tag that can measure temperatures in an electric substation environment. A major cause of power outages is the...
We would like to track assets used on ambulances—stretchers, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, medical kits, and other equipment and tools. Can radio frequency identification technology be used to track these items as they are taken into and out of a vehicle, then stored...
Do you foresee radio frequency identification ever being a suitable replacement for bar codes in the U.K. grocery sector? —Name withheld ——— It's unlikely RFID will ever replace bar codes, period. I do think we will eventually see RFID being used on higher-value,...
Is it possible for GPS satellites to detect radio frequency identification tags, or are such tags useable only in a localized setting, with interrogators and collectors utilizing radio frequencies or WI-FI? —Name withheld ——— There are certain RFID tags that can be...
Could you please identify some businesses that produce RFID-based systems for collecting tolls? —Name withheld ——— Leading toll-collection providers in the United States include Mark IV Industries and TransCore, but there are many companies worldwide that have...
My company is seeking RFID solution providers that can help us improve our IT asset management. Specifically, we need to track IT assets, including desktops, laptops, monitors and servers. Can you provide a list of vendors and solution providers with whom you think I...
I would like to know if there are tags that can be configured to not be seen by an RFID reader if the tags' user does not want them to be read, even if they are within a read zone. Thank you. —Preda Radu ——— Dear Preda, Tags and interrogators currently on the market...
Suppose I want to sell an item that has an RFID tag in it. How can it help me keep track of the item if necessary? —Arunmathi ——— Arunmathi, First off, if you are embedding a tag in a product or its packaging, you should let your customers know that it is there. You...
Do industries dealing in perishable goods utilize radio frequency identification? —Name withheld ——— A lot of work is being done to investigate and measure the benefits RFID can deliver to companies in the perishable food business. Some firms are already using the...
A recent segment featured Gary R. Johnson, Blue Spark Technologies’ president and CEO, explaining how thin, flexible batteries could enhance RFID systems.
What are the primary benefits and drawbacks of radio frequency identification technology? —Name withheld ——— Our Get Started section explains the main business and consumer applications for RFID technologies. In general, the primary benefit is that RFID enables data...
Stronger retailers have an opportunity not just to survive the current downturn, but also to greatly distance themselves from the competition.