Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Cheap, Paper RF ID Tags To Replace Barcodes?

Posted by timothy on from the paperless-office-and-grocery-store dept.

Chris writes: "From EETimes: "International Paper Co. and Motorola Inc. have developed a low-cost RF identification system that could become commonplace on disposable items like cereal boxes, replacing the ubiquitous bar code." While the article does mention that the cost of the technology must drop further (from about 10 to 30 cents per ID to a couple of pennies), it overlooks the potential impact on privacy. (Just imagine embedding these tags in your clothes.)"

2 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Re: not.......really ..scary. by deglr6328 · · Score: 5

    almost all types of RF tags carry no power source of their own.

    they are merely a number encoded chip connected to an induction coil. when the coil is brought near an oscilating magnetic field it induces a current that drives the IC and emits a small amount of coded RF energy from a tiny antenna. simply make the driver field strong enough to cause the ohmic heating in the tag's induction coil to burn it out and no more "the gubment's trackin' me!" delusions to worry about.

    --
    - "Hear that?! The percolations are imminent! Cease your ingress!"
  2. Should be easy to remove by Spooky+Possum · · Score: 5

    Just applying a decent strength RF field will burn out the circuit.

    An antenna can always act as a reciever as well as a transmitter.

    This is how some anti-shoplifting tags work (although most are magnetic) and applying a strong RF field is precisely how they're disabled.

    This also suggests an interesting denial of service, if you can get the RF strength high enough from *outside* the building where they're being used.