A Report on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology
RFID Technology: What it is
RFID is a radio frequency identification system that is automated and allows data collection and transfer as well as the computer identification of specific objects.
RFID technology uses a combination of radio frequency and microchip technologies (Schnell p43). The tags, which are both readable and writable, contain memory microchips and antennas (Schnell p44). Yet they can be so tiny as to be “paper thin” (Schnell p44) or even “smaller than a grain of rice” (Garfinkel & Rosenberg, pxxvii). These microchip tags are attached to objects so that the object’s data can be read remotely using the radio frequency waves (Schnell p43).
How exactly does this technology work? The tag’s microchip contains a “unique identifier and other information, the reader extracts the information on the tag”, while the antenna sends radio waves between the tag and the reader to “excite the microchip allowing the stored information to be read” (Schnell p44).
Image from: www.tagnology.com/rfid.htm
There are also two different types of radio frequency (RF) tags: passive and active. The difference between the two is that an active tag contains a battery powered system while the passive tag is powered solely from the radio signals it receives. Active tags have the advantage of being readable from greater distances because the system doesn’t rely on a RF signal for power, while passive tags have the advantage of being much smaller and cheaper and have a longer “shelf life” because they don’t need battery replacements (Garfinkel & Holtzman, p17).
Origins and Current Use
RFID technology was originally used by the British government in World War II “to identify their own aircraft returning from sorties over occupied Europe” (Mullen & Moore, p5). It was later used by the U.S. government for monitoring nuclear or hazardous materials in the late 1960s (Mullen & Moore, p5). Then in 1977, this technology was released for public use (Mullen & Moore, p5).
Today this technology is applied to various products that most people recognize such as: the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system, vehicle remote keyless entry systems, and in retail for debit payment or for identifying products (Schnell p44).
RFID Systems in Libraries
Libraries also employ this technology which can offer more benefits than the older barcode technology. In the chapter, “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)”, author Eric Schnell lists the ways in which RFID technology is superior to barcodes (incidentally, barcodes are the technology employed by the UA Main library). According to Schnell, the advantages are that: visible tags are not required, tags can be placed anywhere, multiple tags can be read at once, they “are more tamper resistant than barcodes”, and they can provide both security and identification at once (Schnell, p44).
Schnell also lists the possible components of RFID systems used in libraries and explains their functions.
Image from: http://www.d-techdirect.com/images/RFID/main.jpg
Costs
Associated costs of RFID technology for libraries can be large, with the cost of the RF tags representing “about half the overall cost (Schnell p48). Schnell gives the following cost estimates, as of mid 2004: tags $0.80, tags for DVD’s $1.50, tags for VHS tapes about $2.00, anti-theft security device components $4,000, server with interfaces for RFID hardware and an integrated library system $15,000 and a self-check-out machine $20,000 (p48). So, for a rough cost breakdown for libraries implementing an RFID system: for a library with 40,000 items the estimated cost is $70,000, or for a library with 100,000 items the estimated cost is $166,000 (Bowen Ayre, p235).
Impact and Implications: Positives
However, RFID technology may have a positive impact on libraries because it can “offer potential cost savings in the operation and management of resources” by: increasing speed of processing materials, improving management of collections, improving sorting, allowing real time updating of records and reducing theft (Schnell, p45).
The impact and implications for businesses is similar. RFID technology is currently being used in business for manufacturing, distribution and inventory, retail, document tracking, security, food supplies, healthcare (Mullen & Moore, pp8-10).
I recently did a news search for RFID and came across several articles about businesses using this technology. After doing a google search I found “IBM to Provide Network to Monitor Cattle” This article is about IBM creating a “remote system to transmit the body temperature of cattle to ranchers, dairy farmers, feedlot owners and government regulators.” In the op-ed piece “It Tracks Your Every Move...at the Water Park” the author talks about his vacation experience at a water park in Pennsylvania where they used bracelets with RFID technology which allowed for hotel access and for purchasing food and tokens.
Impact and Implications: Negatives
However RFID technology also has it's critics. In today’s news, “Wal-Mart Expands Use of RFID Tracking”:
As noted in the Wal-Mart article, RFID is a controversial technology because of privacy concerns. The major issues are that RFID could be used for profiling and surveillance (Weinberg, p89). In the Wal-Mart article, privacy advocates are concerned about surveillance, claiming that RFID tags could “possibly [be] allowing Wal-Mart to track its customers without their knowledge.”
Privacy issues also remain a top library ethics concern. RFID can have a negative impact on libraries integrity if patron’s “movements and reading habits” are tracked, or have their “information gathered and used to market unwanted products and services” (Schnell, pp49-50).
However, Schnell posits that RFID use in libraries is no more of a threat to patrons’ privacy than traditional circulation databases, or any other debit card or toll pass technology (Schnell, p50). Firstly because of the short “read range” of most libraries RFID systems would make it technically impossible without installing “an array of RFID readers” which is not economically feasible; and secondly because most libraries purge their records kept on patrons once items are returned in order to protect their privacy and ward off USA Patriot Act intrusions (Schnell, p50.)
To help libraries navigate the privacy issue, while utilizing this technology, author Lori Bowen Ayre surveys and lists some best practice guidelines for libraries preparing to use or currently using RFID technology. Among these are:
References:
Bowen Ayre, Lori. “Wireless Tracking in the Library: Benefits, Threats, and Responsibilities.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Foy, Paul. “IBM to Provide Network to Monitor Cattle” Forbes. 24 Aug. 2006. 9 Sept. 2006 http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2006/08/24/ap2972207.html
Garfinkel, Simson and Holtzman, Henry. “Understanding RFID Technology.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Garfinkel, Simson and Rosenberg, Beth, Eds.“Preface.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Mullen, Dan and Moore, Bert. “Automatic Identification and Data Collection: What the Future Holds.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Oswald, Ed. “Wal-Mart Expands Use of RFID Tracking.” Beta News 12 Sept. 2006. 12 Sept. 2006 http://www.betanews.com/article/WalMart_Expands_Use_of_RFID_Tracking/1158092179
Pogue, David. “It Tracks Your Every Move...at the Water Park.” New York Times 30 May 2006. 9 Sept. 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/technology/poguesposts/30pogues-posts.html?ex=1158206400&en=34c50456bffa9703&ei=5070
Schnell, Eric H. “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).” In Technology for the Rest of Us, ed Nancy Courney. CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2005.
Weinberg, Jonathan. “RFID, Privacy, and Regulation.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
RFID is a radio frequency identification system that is automated and allows data collection and transfer as well as the computer identification of specific objects.
RFID technology uses a combination of radio frequency and microchip technologies (Schnell p43). The tags, which are both readable and writable, contain memory microchips and antennas (Schnell p44). Yet they can be so tiny as to be “paper thin” (Schnell p44) or even “smaller than a grain of rice” (Garfinkel & Rosenberg, pxxvii). These microchip tags are attached to objects so that the object’s data can be read remotely using the radio frequency waves (Schnell p43).
How exactly does this technology work? The tag’s microchip contains a “unique identifier and other information, the reader extracts the information on the tag”, while the antenna sends radio waves between the tag and the reader to “excite the microchip allowing the stored information to be read” (Schnell p44).
There are also two different types of radio frequency (RF) tags: passive and active. The difference between the two is that an active tag contains a battery powered system while the passive tag is powered solely from the radio signals it receives. Active tags have the advantage of being readable from greater distances because the system doesn’t rely on a RF signal for power, while passive tags have the advantage of being much smaller and cheaper and have a longer “shelf life” because they don’t need battery replacements (Garfinkel & Holtzman, p17).
Origins and Current Use
RFID technology was originally used by the British government in World War II “to identify their own aircraft returning from sorties over occupied Europe” (Mullen & Moore, p5). It was later used by the U.S. government for monitoring nuclear or hazardous materials in the late 1960s (Mullen & Moore, p5). Then in 1977, this technology was released for public use (Mullen & Moore, p5).
Today this technology is applied to various products that most people recognize such as: the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system, vehicle remote keyless entry systems, and in retail for debit payment or for identifying products (Schnell p44).
RFID Systems in Libraries
Libraries also employ this technology which can offer more benefits than the older barcode technology. In the chapter, “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)”, author Eric Schnell lists the ways in which RFID technology is superior to barcodes (incidentally, barcodes are the technology employed by the UA Main library). According to Schnell, the advantages are that: visible tags are not required, tags can be placed anywhere, multiple tags can be read at once, they “are more tamper resistant than barcodes”, and they can provide both security and identification at once (Schnell, p44).
Schnell also lists the possible components of RFID systems used in libraries and explains their functions.
Circulation Stations: updates circulation and collection records
Staff Processing Stations: processes new materials, writes data to the tag, and updates collection records
Shelf-Management Readers: hand held devices that handles inventory and data searching (for “retrieval or weeding” purposes)
Theft Deterrence Gates: an alarm system that checks “security status of materials”
Self-Checkout Stations: checks patron identification, checks out items, deactivates security and prints receipt
Return Drops: contains scanners for automatic check-in of materials and updates circulation and collection records
Sorting Stations: handles automatic materials sorting (combined with book drop) (Schnell, p44).
Costs
Associated costs of RFID technology for libraries can be large, with the cost of the RF tags representing “about half the overall cost (Schnell p48). Schnell gives the following cost estimates, as of mid 2004: tags $0.80, tags for DVD’s $1.50, tags for VHS tapes about $2.00, anti-theft security device components $4,000, server with interfaces for RFID hardware and an integrated library system $15,000 and a self-check-out machine $20,000 (p48). So, for a rough cost breakdown for libraries implementing an RFID system: for a library with 40,000 items the estimated cost is $70,000, or for a library with 100,000 items the estimated cost is $166,000 (Bowen Ayre, p235).
Impact and Implications: Positives
However, RFID technology may have a positive impact on libraries because it can “offer potential cost savings in the operation and management of resources” by: increasing speed of processing materials, improving management of collections, improving sorting, allowing real time updating of records and reducing theft (Schnell, p45).
The impact and implications for businesses is similar. RFID technology is currently being used in business for manufacturing, distribution and inventory, retail, document tracking, security, food supplies, healthcare (Mullen & Moore, pp8-10).
I recently did a news search for RFID and came across several articles about businesses using this technology. After doing a google search I found “IBM to Provide Network to Monitor Cattle” This article is about IBM creating a “remote system to transmit the body temperature of cattle to ranchers, dairy farmers, feedlot owners and government regulators.” In the op-ed piece “It Tracks Your Every Move...at the Water Park” the author talks about his vacation experience at a water park in Pennsylvania where they used bracelets with RFID technology which allowed for hotel access and for purchasing food and tokens.
Impact and Implications: Negatives
However RFID technology also has it's critics. In today’s news, “Wal-Mart Expands Use of RFID Tracking”:
“Despite the best efforts of privacy advocates, Wal-Mart pressed forward with its plans to use RFID, saying it planned to roll out the technology to another 500 stores during this fiscal year. The expansion would mean over a quarter of the company's 3,900-plus stores, including its Sam's Club subsidiary, would use RFID to manage its inventory.”
As noted in the Wal-Mart article, RFID is a controversial technology because of privacy concerns. The major issues are that RFID could be used for profiling and surveillance (Weinberg, p89). In the Wal-Mart article, privacy advocates are concerned about surveillance, claiming that RFID tags could “possibly [be] allowing Wal-Mart to track its customers without their knowledge.”
Privacy issues also remain a top library ethics concern. RFID can have a negative impact on libraries integrity if patron’s “movements and reading habits” are tracked, or have their “information gathered and used to market unwanted products and services” (Schnell, pp49-50).
However, Schnell posits that RFID use in libraries is no more of a threat to patrons’ privacy than traditional circulation databases, or any other debit card or toll pass technology (Schnell, p50). Firstly because of the short “read range” of most libraries RFID systems would make it technically impossible without installing “an array of RFID readers” which is not economically feasible; and secondly because most libraries purge their records kept on patrons once items are returned in order to protect their privacy and ward off USA Patriot Act intrusions (Schnell, p50.)
To help libraries navigate the privacy issue, while utilizing this technology, author Lori Bowen Ayre surveys and lists some best practice guidelines for libraries preparing to use or currently using RFID technology. Among these are:
Libraries need to be open about using RFID and this includes providing literature to inform patrons about their rational for using RFID, its objective, and the policy and procedures of its use.
Signs should be posted to inform patrons that this technology is being used, describe what type of information is being collected, and a privacy statement should be provided along with a description of how this type of technology differs from the older technologies used.
No personal information should be stored on the tags; nor should any information describing the tagged item, in order to prevent this information being read by unauthorized users.
“All communications between tag and reader should be encrypted via a unique encryption key” (not unlike the 802.11 Standard for LAN’s). (Bowen Ayre, p240).
References:
Bowen Ayre, Lori. “Wireless Tracking in the Library: Benefits, Threats, and Responsibilities.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Foy, Paul. “IBM to Provide Network to Monitor Cattle” Forbes. 24 Aug. 2006. 9 Sept. 2006 http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2006/08/24/ap2972207.html
Garfinkel, Simson and Holtzman, Henry. “Understanding RFID Technology.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Garfinkel, Simson and Rosenberg, Beth, Eds.“Preface.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Mullen, Dan and Moore, Bert. “Automatic Identification and Data Collection: What the Future Holds.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
Oswald, Ed. “Wal-Mart Expands Use of RFID Tracking.” Beta News 12 Sept. 2006. 12 Sept. 2006 http://www.betanews.com/article/WalMart_Expands_Use_of_RFID_Tracking/1158092179
Pogue, David. “It Tracks Your Every Move...at the Water Park.” New York Times 30 May 2006. 9 Sept. 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/technology/poguesposts/30pogues-posts.html?ex=1158206400&en=34c50456bffa9703&ei=5070
Schnell, Eric H. “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).” In Technology for the Rest of Us, ed Nancy Courney. CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2005.
Weinberg, Jonathan. “RFID, Privacy, and Regulation.” In RFID: Applications, Security, and Privacy, eds. Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg. NJ: Addison-Wesley, 2005.
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