Tech Talk: RFIDs

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Presenter: Victoria Raskovich

What is an RFID? Radio Frequency Identification

(RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders

An RFID tag is an object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves

What is an RFID? Similar to bar codes but able to be

read by radio transmission instead of by a light source

Comprised of a microchip and antenna

RFID is in use all around us: 1) Pets with an ID tag2) EZPass3) Paid for gas using SpeedPass

How is This Technology Monitored? Radio Waves are identified You can see patients, etc on a Web-

based enterprise platform that turns location data into real-time business logic

How Does This Technology Apply to Me? Crothall Services Group –

healthcare support services company

Have hospital facilities that use this technology (Cleveland Clinics Foundation)

How Does This Technology Apply to Me? Automatic asset and people tracking

allows health care professionals to quickly locate patients, caregivers, and medical equipment

With patients often scheduled for multiple procedures, knowledge of their location helps optimize the patient-care process

Who Uses RFIDs?

Home Depot Gap Proctor & Gamble Prada Target Wal-Mart Casinos in Las Vegas

What Are the Benefits? Emergency management -

more efficient and faster emergency response

Patient monitoring - better patient safety and increased throughput

Operational costs - can be significantly reduced

Workflow management - better staff utilization

What Are the Benefits? Increased asset utilization: Poor

use of assets may cause many high-value assets to go underused

Hospitals continue to overspend on new and rental assets

The ability to find assets instantaneously and improve their flow through hospital

RFIDs capture data faster than bar-coding Bar-coding – depends on position of the

label

What Are the Limitations? Cost – burden of system

implementation costs Customer is the one that benefits

Privacy Issues Global Frequency Standard is yet

to be agreed upon Most likely will be UHF (ultra high

frequency)

Companies Providing RFID Solutions

Ekahau’s solution allows businesses to keep track of valuable assets and equipment, improve the overall workflow, and improve the levels of corporate security and customer service.

AeroScout's enterprise visibility solutions use standard Wi-

Fi wireless networks to accurately locate and manage assets and people in multiple environments. The AeroScout system includes indoor and outdoor real-time asset location (RTLS).

Resources

http://www.ekahau.com http://www.aeroscout.com http://www.ferret.com.au/articles

/ad/0c0213ad.asp (Pros and Cons on a larger scale project)

http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/rfid/faqs/rfid_bar_codes.html (RFID’s vs. barcoding)