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Slide1: 

R.F.I.D., Radio Frequency Identification Chris Hartley, 2006 http://images.usatoday.com/money/_photos/2004/10/13/inside1-implants.jpg

Introduction: 

Introduction R.F.I.D., Radio Frequency Identification A Brief History Supposedly, the technology has existed in some form since the ’20s, but the first direct connection to existing technology is from a 1948 paper by Harry Stockman entitled “Communication by Means of Reflected Power.” Patented, 1973 by Charles Whalton (Wikipedia)

Introduction (cont’d): 

Introduction (cont’d) RFID represents a simple means of tracking objects and persons cheaply and on a large scale. Applications: Supply chain tracking: The military uses RFID tags to track material in-transit, Fedex is using RFID in the same way. Walmart has mandated RFID technology to any vendors or suppliers hoping to deal with them.

Applications (cont’d): 

Applications (cont’d) Animal Tracking: Livestock and endangered species can be tracked for research or asset management purposes. Contact-less entry: High-security areas, homes, places of work, etc. are all good candidates for RFID- based “touchless” entry. Document Tracking: Precious documents could be kept in the right hands, “certified delivery” could take on a whole new meaning.

Applications (cont’d): 

Applications (cont’d) Gasoline Pay-At-Pump The Speedway Speedpass© currently employs RFID devices for contact-less pay. Theft Prevention When every consumer purchasable item contains an embedded RFID, it will be virtually impossible to “lift” anything at all. Detectors at the door could instantly determine that an infraction had occurred, and even the value of stolen merchandise.

Applications (cont’d): 

Applications (cont’d) Patient record tracking: Patients carrying, wearing, or implanted with RFID tags could have their medical information literally follow them everywhere. Law Enforcement: Prisoners tagged with RFID can be easily distinguished from free citizens if prisoners were tagged. Prisoner movements could be timed and controlled much more efficiently.

Applications (cont’d): 

Applications (cont’d) Law Enforcement (cont’d) Free citizens could use RFID as an alibi, unlawful entrances could be logged, and trespassers “bagged and tagged” (so to speak). Speeding could be made a thing of the past if vehicles are tracked on the roadways. Immigration Passports and extra means of RFID-based identification could simply passing over borders, and the naturalization process.

Applications (cont’d): 

Applications (cont’d) Public Schools: The Enterprise Charter School in Buffalo, New York uses RFID to track students. In 2003, school director Gary Stillman decided to force the school’s 460 students to wear Texas Instruments RFID tags. No truancy there…. Traffic Control Toll Booths use RFID to charge motorists and automate gate operation. The British government is considering requiring license plates to bear RFID chips.

Consumer Products: 

Consumer Products (Japan) Verichip (US & …) “Digital Angel”

Consumer Products: 

Consumer Products The Tag!Zapper, RFID deactivation tool (US, hopefully) NaviCart (right), Coca Cola RFID/walletphone compatible (below) (Japan)

Consumer Products: 

Consumer Products RFID ATM (Japan) RFID Keychain (US) Coin, chip, reader (Japan)

Implants!: 

Implants! DIY RFID at http://www.coolorwhat.net/blog/archive/2005/03/25/622.aspx The Mexico attorney general's office implanted the so-called RFIDs -- for radio frequency identification chips -- in some employees in 2004 to restrict access to secure areas. Implanting them in the workers at CityWatcher.com is believed to be the first use of the technology in living humans in the United States. http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=03200000SJ4W Feb. 13, 2006 http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=3446 Whether TiVo actually decides to build in the feature*, the patent is for a personal video recorder (PVR) that recognizes viewer preferences through an RFID chip embedded in clothing, jewelry or "inserted somewhere [in] the user's body."

Concerns: 

Concerns RFID could be used to track citizens without their consent – wiretaps are ever easier for law enforcement to attain, so why not RFID surveillance? RFID could intensify ‘targeted advertising’ RFID could be exploited by identity thieves and hackers to compromise identity and security

Concerns: 

Concerns RFID Position Statement of Consumer Privacy and Civil Liberties Organizations (November 20, 2003) Issued by:Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN), Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Junkbusters, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Meyda Online, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), PrivacyActivism …. Endorsed By: …..

Conclusion: 

Conclusion The possibilities are truly endless, and RFID sounds like the kind of technology promised at the World’s Fair but unheard of since. Hopefully we’ll find a way to enjoy its benefits without sacrificing anything more important…

Questions?: 

Questions?