The future of Radio Frequency Identification

RFID is a means of identification and tracking of a thing (object, person etc.) by the use of a non-contact identification tag that uses wireless to transfer information. I believe this technology will overtake the bar code as the means of automatic identification. This technology is in use today and is gaining acceptance rapidly, these tags are getting smaller and cheaper, evidence of this is seen in the following image retrieved from (RFID ‘Powder – world’s Smallest RFID Tag)

                                                Powder RFID chips next to a human hair

I predict that the future stores will have everything tagged with micro RFID tags with readers everywhere interacting in a smart environment consisting of other technologies so the whole shopping experience will be easy with faster checkouts... Can you imagine your pantry, refrigerator consisting of a smart environment (linked into your home network) that knows?

• ·         What items need to be reordered
• ·         What items are old and need to be chucked out
• ·         Can automatically order items online if required.

I believe this technology will make a big impact in the future.