IBM sets up shop to test radio tags | CNET News.com

“IBM said Wednesday that it is building a testing facility designed to allow companies to check the accuracy of gear that employs controversial RFID tags.”

While Big Blue touts its new facility for “mission critical testing,” it will likely also be used for establishing vendor relationships and demonstrating IBM’s supply chain systems. Several major retail companies have large scale, real world testing/demonstration facitilites similar to this one, often near corporate headquarters.  

India / Kerala News :: India, World, Kerala, Business, Sports, Cinema, Technology, Travel, Health - News & Features, Daily Updated

“E.U. scientists propose two different patented technologies to ensure that watches are genuine: 1) The use of passive transponders, with information stored on a microchip included in a passive radio frequency transponder. The transponder, capable of transmitting the signal through metal up to 0.5 mm thick, is embedded inside the back cover of the watch. This transponder’s signal can be picked up from the outside thanks to a specific antenna, connected to a database (available on-line) that matches the transponder identity to the watch number. The date of sale and owner’s name can also be stored in the transponder if required.”

This was included initially because of the “wow that’s cool” factor. With further examination, however, the tagging of Rolexes would be congrous with several threats outlined in CASPIAN’s RFID position statement, namely,

• Hidden placement of tags
• Lack of labeling
• Unique identifiers

However one would argue that few luxury watch customers would object to authenticity measures built into watches despite the obvious privacy threats. Projects like this one which will lead the way to ubiquitous item level tags. You notice a jewler testing authenticity with a handheld reader years before we check shampoo stock levels from across the country.  

Retailers Offer Technical and Policy Leadership On California RFID Debate

“The National Retail Federation and the California Retailers Association today promised to lend their expertise on both technical and policy issues as the California state Senate prepares to hold a hearing on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology this week. … In a joint letter to Bowen, NRF and CRA urged that legislators consider four areas: Education – Consumers need to be educated on the benefits of RFID, such as the ability to make returns without a receipt, to aid law enforcement in the recovery of stolen property, or to aid in the recall of defective or contaminated products.

• Notice – To gain consumer trust and confidence, standards for RFID must provide notice to consumers about:
  • RFID’s uses.
  • How information collected via RFID will be maintained or used.
  • The choices and benefits available to consumers.
  • The impact that consumer choices will have.
• Choice – Policymakers must address options for consumers on whether RFID tags can be turned off after a purchase and how the information they help gather can be used.
• Value – The wide range of benefits of RFID must actually be delivered to consumers, and retailers need to be able to deploy the technology cost-effectively.”

Debra Bowen is the Califorinia Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Chairwoman known for her early efforts in RFID policy.  

Wired News: Is RFID Technology Easy to Foil?

“Makers of RFID (or radio frequency identification) tags, along with the retailers and suppliers who plan to use them, are saying the technology they spent millions of dollars developing is too weak to threaten consumer privacy. Metals, plastics and liquids, they say, all block radio signals before they reach RFID reader devices.”

The article goes on to say that Coca-Cola will encounter difficulty tagging cans as both metal and fluid block tag reads. This is incorrect. Metal reflects radio waves, and tags work well if raised slightly (perhaps by a thin foam backing) above the metal surface.

The article also incorrectly states that Wal-Mart was tracking consumers with its in-store RFID tests. The rfid tags had no connection to consumer records and were no more capable of tracking a consumer than a printed bar code.  

KOTV - The News On Six

“Linda Moskal, Wal-Mart shopper: “Seems kind of like an invasion of privacy I would rather they be upfront and disclose to the consumer that they’re doing market research I don’t think anyone would mind. It’s kinda fishy if they’re going to do it and not inform us and I don’t like that.” … Marsha Huie, TU Law Professor: “I’m not at all surprised because the technology is such that the intrusions on personal privacy are readily available if businesses want to avail themselves.” Marsha Huie is a TU law professor who has studied privacy issues. She says there are no adequate laws restricting intrusions by businesses. “That’s one problem in the United States is that we let business dictate our policy of morality and privacy and it has frightening implications.” ”

iTNews

“Privacy advocates and radio frequency identification (RFID) backers appeared to agree on at least that much at a US workshop on RFID and privacy involving several hundred representatives of RFID technology producers and users, privacy advocates, academics, and technologists. But the conference also showed that the two sides had a lot of work to do to find common ground. The workshop was billed as the first major effort to bring together RFID backers and opponents. While companies with a stake in RFID, such as Intel, NCR, Philips Semiconductors, and ThingMagic (which made RFID readers) attended and made presentations, the audience appeared weighted towards RFID sceptics. Some companies with big RFID plans, including Wal-Mart and Proctor & Gamble, didn’t attend, while representatives of others, including Gillette, were present but did not speak.”

The request is already being met by a proposal from Alanco Technologies Inc., which provided the original TSI PRISM RFID (radio frequency identification) tracking system for the juvenile facility at Whitmore Lakes. The company plans to respond to the new request - which is expected to be awarded within sixty days - with TSI PRISM as well.

RFID Journal - The Real Scandal

“The Sun Times story didn’t provide any information that showed P&G and Wal-Mart invaded anyone’s privacy. But by using words such as “concealed” and “secret,” it suggested these companies had some nefarious intent. In fact, all they wanted to do was determine whether there’s a better way to make sure products are on the shelf.”

The shroud of secrecy surrounding the pilot was intentional and more than just competitive. RFID Journal reported the existence of the Lipfinity RFID shelf nine months before the Chicago Sun Times but promptly removed it from their website after being contacted by a large, involved company. Little trace is left of the short lived Journal article detailing the smart shelf. Why would an independent news source pull a story? I can only speculate, but it is likely RFID Journal knew, like Wal-Mart and P&G knew, that consumers are frightened of RFID technology. Swift public backlashes to Benneton and later Gillette trials demonstrate their foresight. Is it wrong for a corporation to hide something consumers might be uncomfortable with despite it being arguably benign? It is certainly commonplace. The Journal was acting with corporate interests and the RFID industry at large in mind.

The UK supermarket chain, Tesco, has unveiled its plans for end-to-end supply chain RFID (radio frequency identification) tagging, to be fully implemented by all suppliers by 2007. The plans follow successful early trials of the technology on a range of non-food items in some of its stores and distribution centres. Starting immediately, Tesco is planning and working with suppliers and technology providers to bring about a complete supply chain implementation of RFID technology by 2007.

The Department of Defense (DoD) will hold an RFID Industry Summit Dec. 2 at Hyatt Fair Lakes in Fairfax, Va.

All defense suppliers are invited to attend, as well as defense supply chain personnel, commercial partners, industry associations and acquisition and logistics program managers from the Combatant Commands, Military Services and Defense Logistics Agency.

Sessions will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The DoD will explain their RFID policy at the meeting and solicit feedback from suppliers. Attendees should submit questions and topics of interest prior to the summit via the Automatic Identification Technology Web site at www.dodait.com by Nov. 25.

www.dodait.com

[Frontline Solutions]