RFID Tags – What They Are and How They Work

RFID Chips (Radio-Frequency Identification Chips) are widely used today. Dog-tags, supermarket products, even humans can be RFID-ed to keep track of their location and aid logistics. RFIDs are tiny, they are powered by external signals and and thus can be easily hidden from sight. They work on radio and thus unlike barcode they just need to be in the area to be read rather then be passed over a laser scanner. Thus they are more efficient. Alien Technology is one of the pioneers in RFID technology, production and marketing. They make RFID tags, printers and readers that are fully compliant with modern standards. The tag catches radio signals and posts responses, using the waves to power itself up in the process. It requires only a very tiny amount of power, enough only to post a reply, hence the process is very quick.

RFIDs are used in all sectors and industries nowadays. Supply chain management, machine-driven payment, physical access control, counterfeit prevention, airline baggage management, smart homes and offices, logistics and security. More commonly the RFID tags are seen by people in stores and shopping malls, attached to the price label as well as hidden inside of the clothing or product. This thin flat tag is called a ‘Label’. ‘Ticket’ is even thinner and made of paper. ‘Card’ is the chip inserted in a tought but thin plastic like employee IDs and access cards. ‘Glass Bead’ is a durable small tag in a cylindrical glass ball or bead. These are used to tag animals and be safe for them as well as durable enough to stay tagged on. RFIDs come in various frequencies that are custom designed for use in specific applications.

Many applications are revolutionized with the accuracy and reliability of RFID devices, like manufacturing process control and confirmation, material tracking, airline luggage identification and routing systems and single-pass multiple item identification. All processes get catalyzed with the introduction of intelligent tracking and management. Especially toll collection and container tracking has become extremely efficient thanks to the quick movement and identification thanks to RFIDs at ports. Mobil Speedpass is a recent application of RFIDs in payment systems. For more valuable items that need tags which last longer, Active and Semi-passive RFID Tags are used. But they are more expensive than passive tags and hence are used rarely in low-value goods.

People’s privacy however get’s compromised with RFIDs. All technology and development is two sided. The demerits of RFIDs, though fewer, are severe. Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union are some groups which have been formed to protect civil liberties and protect people against invasion of privacy. You can be tracked, your conversation and actions recorded and this can all be done cheaply and effectively. All this from spy movies is a reality and there are many more spies and sleuths out there than you may have thought.

RFIDs are operational over short distances and that is a demerit. The tag can be read only at very short distances, typically a few feet at most. Go for Passive RFIDs if area of use has less interference and distances ranging anywhere from a few inches to a few yards.