July 07, 2006
I Am Not A Number - Using RFID in Identification Systems
One of the greatest fears of opponents to any use of RFID technology is that of invasion of privacy and possibly loss of identity. Some people have even gone as far as to say that RFID is the fabled Mark of the Beast that the Christian Bible mentions. Those feelings are especially aimed at applications of RFID where chips are implanted into the body.
But as has been said endless times, (most) technology is not inherently evil, just how it's sometimes used. That said, RFID is being used in a number of identification applications that do not violate privacy and actually perform a benefit, like all good technology should.
One growing use is in identification badges for conference-goers. Such use of RFID improves upon the older uses of barcodes or magnetic strips, and can provide valuable information for both attendees and presenters. An article about RFID badges at Meetings Focus (links below) does a nice job of explaining what RFID can and cannot do.
The information collected via RFID is not inherently different than a human could collect by glancing at an attendee's badge and correlating that with a purchase or other activity. RFID just makes it a lot easier information that is already collected at conferences and meetings.
Another use of RFID identification allows for parents to track their small children at crowded public and amusement parks, typically through means of a long-range RFID-enabled bracelet, watch, or other wearable device.
Every family that's been to a busy theme park probably has experienced the fright of a member being temporarily missing. When I was about 11, my over-protective mother relented to my pleas and let me take my five-year old brother on the city bus to some summer festival near downtown. There were collectable comic books on sale. This town was less than half the population it is now.
Towards the end of the festival, when I was getting ready to leave, I realized with horror that my quiet little brother was not holding my hand. My stomach churned until a bit of scouting led me to him.
My mother still doesn't know that, and refuses to use a computer, so don't tell her I told you. But this was a tiny area, in reality, and I found him after only a few minutes. What happens when you are at a place like Disneyland or King's Island or Wonderland, all of which cover many acres? A joint effort by Texas Instruments RFID division and SafeTzone Technologies has resulted in SafeTzone, a system that is being used in some theme parks to monitor children, through the use of an RFID-enabled wristband.
The SafeTzone wristband provides an unique code number with which a parent can track their child, from various RFID reader kiosks throughout participating theme parks. No personal information need be stored. A new version of the system also allows wristbands to be used as electronic wallets. No need for those stupid strips of tickets that often get lost from a child's hands. Kids can just wave their wristbands and get into a ride or feature.
Both the meeting identification badges and the SafeTzone wristbands are good examples of how RFID can be used by neither violating personal privacy nor requiring a chip implant.
Sources: Meetings Focus, ABC News [both via RFID Update daily newsletter]
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