LATEST TECHNOLOGY

UK-based Manchester Airport has geared up for RFID trials once again following the change in licensing policy over the use of UHF tags.

Yemmi Agbebi, head of business development for Manchester Airports Group views data collected by the use of RFID tags is vital for effective air services ensuring safety and security to the passengers.

The Manchester Airports had conducted an RFID trial and rejoiced with the result. However, the implementation costs stood major obstacle for large-scale deployment of this tracking technology.

This is because until November last year, the business enterprises required a license to utilize UHF technology. It forced the airport to postpone the trial of RFID technology undesirably.

Now, UHF technology is license free in UK. Therefore, the Manchester Airports group has shown interest to use on 13.56MHz tags for the initial trial...LINK

Even though, the debate regarding security of RFID technology is more vibrant in USA, the countries, which have good diplomatic relations with USA have agreed to issue the RFID-enabled e-passports to their citizens, confirms the Department of Homeland Security.

The security department explains except three countries (Andorra, Brunei and Liechtenstein), all of the 27 countries as required by USA for the Visa Waiver Program are now issuing e-passports to their citizens. Generally, the citizens of these countries are allowed to travel to USA without a Visa.

The agreed countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

The U.S. State Department has already issued RFID passports to some American travelers to make travel documents secure and accountable following the 9/11 terrorist attack...LINK

Hong Kong Disneyland, the fifth Disneyland in the world has introduced an RFID-enabled fingerprint scanning technology, which would protect its customers’ fingerprint data and privacy in a simple process.

The biometric ticket system, which carries RFID tags, takes 50 points of a fingerprint stored in a numerical value. Then it runs the number through an algorithm and adds encryption to it.

The advanced ticketing system also identifies physiological data beneath the finger to monitor blood flow and cartilages to expose the prosthetic or fake fingers to get into.

David Shek, senior analyst of IT security, Hong Kong Disneyland said,

We didn’t want to take the customers’ entire fingerprint [image] and have to implement a security structure to properly protect that data.

With the introduction biometric ticket system in the Hong Kong Disneyland, the annual pass holders are now not required to produce photo ID card to authenticate their identity while entering into the theme park...LINK

The Port of Oakland, the first major port on the Pacific Coast and the fourth busiest container port in the USA has announced that it is embracing RFID technology to make its trucking operations more efficient under a strong security atmosphere.

For which, the California-based Port of Oakland has decided to adopt active RFID system of WhereNet Corp, a wireless asset tracking and management solutions provider.

Under the program, RFID tags will be embedded to the trucks that ship material to Port of Oakland facilities. These tags will contain all the vital information about the trucking companies who take their trucks to the port. Using RFID readers, the port authorities will read the tags as they enter into the Oakland International Container Terminal.

Commenting on the proposed RFID program, Mike O’Brien, security officer for the Port of Oakland explains,

While enhancing security measures is always a work in progress, we consider beginning to identify and track trucks on our premises with the latest technology as an important step forward...LINK

A recent study has claimed that RFID or ‘Radio Frequency Identification technology’ is widely used by major aviation industries in developing their asset-based applications.

RFID is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders.

ABI Research, a technological research group in New York, has reported that aerospace giants such as Boeing and Airbus are deploying RFID systems for parts tracking and other processes. RFID technology is being exploited by both aviation and defence industries in their quest for low cost and increased efficiency.

To get the most out of this technology it must be combined with other advanced applications like the GPS technology states Michael Liard, the firm’s RFID research director.

Airbus plans to use RFID tags on all the removable sections of its new double-decker A380 aeroplane.

This seemingly latest technology is not so new as a technology very similar to this was invented by the British in 1939 and was routinely used by the allies in World War II to identify airplanes as friend or foe....LINK

A new half size aluminum RFID inlay would be available in next month, according to Omron Corp, one of the global leader in automation, sensing and control technology. The new half -size HF (13.56MHz) aluminum RFID inlay is approximately 50 percent smaller than its current card sized product. The second product is based on Omron’s V730 HF aluminum range and it is compliance with ISO/IEC 15693 standards.

Omron’s existing card-sized HF aluminum inlay is slightly smaller than an average business or credit card. The extension of aluminum coil antenna RFID inlays includes two HF types and three UHF band types. Initially, Omron has launched aluminum based inlays to complement its copper based products. Now, both aluminum and copper-based RFID inlays are available in card size as well as half size formats.

The HF RFID inlays are used in library management systems, where they are used in labels attached to books. While the card sized labels are used in Europe and Japan, and half size labels are used in some parts of Asia Pacific. The company is cooperating with other companies to provide converted products, including laminated inlays and plastic tags. Additionally, the company is committed to respond flexible customer requests for aluminum-based inlays in formats and shapes other than card-size and half-size...LINK

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has endorsed a Bill that bars forceful implantation of RFID tags into human skins. The Bill will come into force from January next year. The newly enacted legislation restricts companies from forcing their employees to wear RFID tags. The governor signed the debatable Bill this week...LINK

IBM announced the availability of an electronic pedigree system (ePedigree), which will allow pharmaceutical companies to create an electronic certificate of authenticity for every drug, which passes through the supply chain. The ePedigree allows all participants in the drug supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and hospitals to access historical data on medicine package.

The ePedigree is a new version of IBM’s WebSphere RFID Information Center (RFIDIC), a high performance data repository, which allows users to efficiently manage and securely share information with trading partners to authenticate pharmaceuticals. IBM’s ePedigree uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, which tracks packages of drugs. The new ePedigree offers a flexible ‘track and trace’ framework through standards-based EPC Information Services. Clients would be able to easily access key data elements to solve their business needs like chargeback resolution by generating EPCIS events and queries.

IBM has integrated the Coral8 Engine, complex event processing software from Coral8with ePedigree, which allows customers to set up rules for supply chains. Additionally the ePedigree, is fully compatible with the EPCglobal Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standard. The product also integrates the customer master data systems to provide additional business context by using product, location and supplier information.

According to Chris Clauss, director of sensor information management at IBM Software, the whole system watches and keeps records of medicine history. This system is helpful tool for industry to comply with mandates and various trading requirements...LINK

What can RFID do for the visually challenged people? Ask TellMate, a newly launched RFID system by S.J Chin. It enables blinds to identify daily used objects such as food items in a kitchen room or things kept in the wallet. It also helps them to identifying credit cards for payments. Wonderful!..LINK

Gadget to go ... the EO ultra mobile personal computer.

Lia Timson rounds up the coolest gadgets at the latest technology trade show.