| Radio frequency identification or RFID is an old | | | | today to identify it to air traffic control. The difference |
| concept that has stealthily become a large part of | | | | is that until fairly recently, these radio signal emitters or |
| everyone's life. RFID has been around for at least 90 | | | | transponders were the size of a suitcase and cost a |
| years and was initially put into practice about 70 years, | | | | lot of money. |
| but not many people knew about it. Nowadays, you | | | | These days they are the size of the tiniest coin in your |
| yourself are most likely scanned every day by an | | | | pocket and cost about five cents. They triumph over |
| RFID reader and the things you buy are definitely | | | | the bar code because they can store loads of |
| scanned at least once a week. | | | | information, such as where and when and by whom |
| So what is RFID? Well, you can think of it as the | | | | an article was made; how much it cost and how much |
| update of the bar code although in fact, it predates the | | | | it should be sold for; its colour, weight and description; |
| bar code by 50 or 60 years. Bar codes were invented | | | | which shelf and in which shop it should be kept on.... ad |
| in order to integrate stock control with point of sales | | | | infinitum. The store owner can write anything on that |
| processing. | | | | chip using an RFID printer. |
| Everyone has witnessed this and is used to it: the | | | | And when it comes to the cash register... No more |
| sales clerk at the cash register takes the items from | | | | scanning each individual item by hand, because each |
| your trolley one at a time, looks for the bar code, | | | | RFID chip or tag, as they are called in the industry, |
| flashes a light or a bar code reader over it and the | | | | emits its own data on its own exclusive radio |
| cost of the article is added to your bill. | | | | frequency, therefore so long as the RFID scanner is |
| What you do not see is that the computerized stock | | | | within three or four feet of the trolley, it knows what is |
| records for that article are lowered by one and the | | | | in there instantaneously. No more emptying, scanning |
| sales price is noted along side it. That system worked | | | | and refilling the trolley. |
| well for 40 years, but now there is a need for more | | | | In fact, no more check out clerk. Most people pay with |
| data to be recorded than a bar code can hold and | | | | a credit or debit card these days anyway, so as you |
| there is requirement for more stock control and even | | | | walk past the scanner with your trolley, you are |
| more speed at the till Nobody has any time anymore. | | | | scanned; you swipe your credit card through another |
| Enter RFID, an old technology revamped. RFID is the | | | | scanner; if you are satisfied with it, you approve the |
| technology that they used to put in Second World | | | | payment and the barrier lifts for you to carry on to |
| War aircraft in order to identify friendly aircraft to the | | | | your car. You only have to have a check out clerk for |
| RADAR-controlled anti-aircraft guns. The same | | | | the shoppers who want to pay in cash. Cheques are |
| equipment, fundamentally, that they still use in airplanes | | | | being abolished soon anyway. |