Frequently Asked Questions

EPCglobal and Auto-ID Labs

• What is EPCglobal?
• What is the difference between EPCglobal and EPCglobal US?
• What is the Auto-ID Center?
• What are the Auto-ID Labs?
• What type of research are the Auto-ID Labs doing?
• Is EPC technology just for use on consumer products goods?

General RFID Information

• What is automatic identification?
• What is RFID?
• Is RFID better than using bar codes?
• Will RFID replace bar codes?
• Is RFID new?
• If RFID has been around so long and is so great, why aren't all companies using it?
• What has prevented RFID from taking off until now?
• In what ways are companies using RFID today?
• What are some of the most common applications for RFID?
• What have the initial benefits of RFID technology been?

Intellectual Property Issues

• Who owns the intellectual property created by the Auto-ID Center?
• Does EPCglobal charge fees for the use of EPC technology?
• Is EPC Gen 2 a royalty-free standard?

Other RFID Issues

• Are there any health risks associated with RFID and radio waves?
• Will RFID lead to massive layoffs of workers?
• How can RFID improve worker safety?
• How can RFID improve promotional and marketing incentives?

Privacy and Data Collection

• Will governments be able to use RFID to spy on people?
• In the future, is it possible that a criminal could scan the EPCs on watches, jewelry and other items to choose whom to rob?
• What information is stored on RFID tags?
• Why are companies so keen to use RFID if it is not to gain more information on consumers?
• Are there laws governing the use of RFID?
• What kind of data do companies want to collect?
• What is RFID Journal's position on RFID and privacy?
• Could a criminal build an illegal, high-powered reader and scan all the items in homes to choose which ones to rob?
• Will RFID enable companies to keep track of what consumers buy?
• Can RFID tags be read from satellites?
• From how far away can a typical RFID tag be read?

Questions About RFIDJournal.com

• How Is RFID Journal organized?
• I forgot my password. What should I do?
• Where can I search for stories posted on RFID Journal?
• How can I get access to stories with the lock icon?
• How can I post a help-wanted ad under the Job Listings?
• Does RFID Journal have an e-mail newsletter service?
• If I'm having trouble accessing paid content, what should I do?
• I signed up for the newsletter but have not been receiving it. Why?
• Is there a way to display RFID Journal headlines on my Web site?
• Does RFID Journal offer an RSS news feed?

RFID in Consumer Products

• Can RFID tags in consumer products be deactivated before the customer leaves the store?
• How big are RFID transponders?
• Can tags be reactivated?
• Can RFID tags be hidden in consumer products?
• Are there any consumer benefits to RFID? Or do all the benefits go to the companies that use it?
• Can RFID tags be sewn into clothing?
• Can RFID be embedded in money?

RFID Journal's Digital Magazine

• Am I still considered a premium member?
• Why will RFID Journal's print magazine be replaced with an electronic version?
• When will this change take effect?
• What time of month will I receive each electronic issue, and how will it be delivered?
• Will the digital version provide the same type of RFID coverage as the print edition?
• Will I require any special computer programs to view or access the new publication?
• Will the cost of membership change?
• How can I learn about advertising opportunities for the new digital version?
• Still have questions?

RFID Printer-Encoders

• What is an RFID printer-encoder?
• What are some of the issues companies should consider before purchasing RFID printer-encoders and applicators?
• Is there much difference among RFID label printers in terms of features or functionality?
• Can companies easily upgrade existing, non-RFID-enabled printers or applicators to print or apply RFID labels?

RFID Readers

• What is an agile reader?
• What are intelligent and dumb readers?
• What is reader collision?
• What Is Dense Reader Mode?
• Can Class 1 and Class 0 readers be upgraded to read Gen 2 tags?
• Who are the leading RFID reader vendors?

RFID Standards

• What is the EPCIS standard?
• Are there any standards for RFID?
• Are EPC standards finalized?
• What is EPC Gen 2?
• What is the foundation protocol?
• What's the difference between ISO and EPC?
• What is ISO 18000-6?
• Why is EPC Gen 2 important?
• What is the EPCglobal e-pedigree standard?
• Why is EPCIS important?

RFID Tags

• How much information can an RFID tag store?
• What's the difference between read-only and read-write RFID tags?
• What's the difference between passive and active tags?
• What is the read range for a typical RFID tag?
• What is tag collision?
• What is energy harvesting?
• What is a chipless RFID tag?
• I've heard that RFID doesn't work around metal and water. Does that mean I can't use it to track cans or liquid products?
• Who are the leading RFID tag vendors?
• What are micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)?
• How is data stored on an RFID tag? What mechanisms are used to change data values on passive RFID tags?

RFID Technology

• How does an RFID system work?
• What is the difference between low-, high-, and ultra-high frequencies?
• How do I know which frequency is right for my application?
• Do all countries use the same frequencies?
• I've heard RFID can be used with sensors. Is that true?

The Cost of RFID Equipment

• Can I buy a 5-cent RFID tag?
• How much does an RFID tag cost today?
• How much do RFID readers cost today?
• How much does a fully functional RFID system cost?

The Electronic Product Code

• What is the Electronic Product Code?
• How does the EPC work?
• Why is EPC technology important?
• Will there be just one type of EPC?
• What's the EPC header for?
• How can a company track items using EPCs?
• How do you know what item 1-2345-67890 is?
• How do companies use the EPC data to become more efficient and more profitable?

The EPCglobal Network

• How does a computer act on information about a product?
• How do you avoid having all this data about individual products overload existing networks?
• How do Savants work?
• Why were Savants needed?
• What is the Object Name Service?
• Who will maintain the ONS?
• What is Physical Markup Language?
• What types of data will be stored in the PML file?
• Where will all these PLM files be stored?
• Will my company have to replace our entire bar code infrastructure to take advantage of the Electronic Product Code?
• What can the EPC network do that existing bar code systems can't do?

Vertical Industries

• What are some of the RFID applications implemented by companies in the retail/CPG industry?
• What are some of the RFID applications implemented by companies in the manufacturing industry?
• What are some of the RFID applications implemented by companies in the automotive industry?
• What are some of the RFID applications implemented by companies in the health-care industry?
• What are some of the RFID applications implemented by companies in the pharmaceutical industry?
• What are some of the RFID applications implemented by companies in the distribution/logistics industry?

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