Radio Frequency Barcodes :: Technology Essays

Radio Frequency BarcodesHistoryTraditionally, companies have used standard paper barcodes in conjunction with information databases to track inventory and monitor reaping movement. By tracking incoming and outgoing crossing, barcodes form an easy means of maximizing the overall efficiency of a business. Barcodes do however have authentic limitations. Barcode s undersidening is dependent on the orientation of the barcode with the horizontal laser scanner and therefore the overall speed of the process drives a function of the speed at which the individual can orient and then scan. This minor limitation may be a soon be resolved as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) engineering maximizes the potential for efficient and quick product management in the form of electronic barcodes. Radio-Frequency Identification is not a new technology but has become realistic through recent advancements. Key PlayersA small handful of companies inside and outside the United States are developing t his new technology. A fellowship called RF-ID.Com specializes in electronic barcodes and transponders for the management of everything from automobiles to cattle, beer kegs, and packages. While another, RF Ideas Inc. has teamed up with such companies as Motorola and Microsoft to manufacture a form of proximity activated identification or AIR ID as a form of added security for Windows NT systems. These companies and others have been testing RF-ID technology throughout Europe for quite some time in product test runs. Technology Different companies offer a variety of products as solutions to different customer needs. The core of any RF-ID system is the Tag or Transponder which can be attached to or embedded within objects. (1) RF-IDs come in all shapes and sizes, from little glass transponder capsules to being placed in amid layers of paper or plastic to form inexpensive stickers for disposable use. But all of the Radio-Frequency Identification technology relies on the same princip le, wireless communication amongst a RF-ID or transponder and the RF Module of a reader. The data collected from an RF-ID can either be sent directly to a host ready reckoner through standard interfaces, or it can be stored in a portable reader and later uploaded to the computer for data processing. (1) When a transponder comes within begin of a reader it uses energy collected from a RF wave that is stored in a capacitor to broadcast its own answering message which is received by the reader. (1) Many of the new transponders feature read/write updating so that information can be read and uploaded on the fly.