tagged

New AeroScout for auto-find

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:01:37 -0400

AeroScout's new T3 RFID tag, which communicates over WiFi networks and features simple response buttons for answering calls, will be on the market in the middle of 2007. These tags, examples of a new generation of enhanced RFID systems, are designed to allow for patient, physical asset, or employee tracking throughout a facility, with the buttons providing programmed responses when the status of the tagged asset changes. The tags, smaller and thinner than the current series, will communicate using Cisco Compatible Extensions in a standard WiFi network.

For more on AeroScout:
- read the article at Network World

Editor's Corner

Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:01:39 -0400

The need for secure RFID

California has led the charge on many new initiatives that eventually caught fire nationwide, but securing radio frequency identification technology and the privacy of citizens isn't one of them it seems. Last week Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill aimed at creating a security framework for RFID use in state documents and identification cards. In making his decision the governor said he thought it prudent to wait until federal leaders issued security standards on RFID initiatives. That way, he explained, California's rules would be aligned with Uncle Sam's. There are just two basic problems with his thought process around the issue: the federal government moves slowly, very slowly and emerging technologies require attention. The California legislation, tagged the Identity Information Protection Act of 2006, would have mandated security measures to prevent the abuse of RFID data and to make skimming, or the reading of RFID data without consent, a crime. I just can't see why the federal government would have any issue with that. Hopefully it's looking to lay down the same requirements whenever it gets RFID efforts off the ground. Too bad California's leader doesn't see the incredible opportunity to take the lead on such an effort. -Judy

How a wireless network keeps inventory in check

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 20:01:38 -0400

A leading aerospace company has built a wireless local area network (WLAN) system that will help it keep track of parts and manufacturing tools and boost inventory functions. The Boeing Company runs one of the largest plants in business today, covering almost 100 acres at 472 million cu. ft. The facility in Everett, WA, is also home to the development of the company's 787 super jumbo jet that should take flight this summer. Keeping track of all the equipment and manufacturing tools in such a large facility is not easy. The process was labor intensive and costly until the IT department brought in location tracking on a WLAN. Now engineers can quickly find and assemble parts and airplane kits, and very little goes missing or lost. That means less money spent on replacement parts and greater productivity, say IT leaders.

The first step was setting up a tagging system using the company's using an 802.11 network. But not everything has been tagged with RFID tags as the cost of the tags is still pretty pricey, so Boeing tagged items on components and tools "valuable enough" to warrant the cost. Now up and running, the company is discovering that the WLAN is useful for a slew of other business needs and is seeing benefits all over the tech map--from better security and management to quality of service gains. The new hurdle is now how to manage all the tracking data being collected. However, IT leaders seem confident that with a good management strategy the data management piece will also reap big benefits. Article