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RFID Tags For The Rich

Posted by michael on from the tag-them-all dept.

Greedo writes "While reading this piece about designing 'experiences' in the Globe and Mail, I came across this interesting tidbit: If you're a frequent Prada shopper (and who on /. isn't?), the loyalty card in your wallet or purse contains a RFID tag that announces your arrival in the store. When you encounter a saleswoman, her handheld computer brings up your tastes, buying history, vital statistics and personalized suggestions from in-stock and coming inventory; the handhelds also place orders and book change rooms. Every item for sale bears an RFID tag. The RFID tags are courtesy of IDEO, and their website has a nice write-up of all the RFID-powered stuff at Prada, including the changeroom! I'm guessing this isn't coming to Wal*Mart's changerooms when they implement RFID. (Another write-up can be found here.)"

6 of 399 comments (clear)

  1. Messing with thier system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So what would it take to create a small device to send out random RDIF signals (a 'white noise' generator)?

    1. Re:Messing with thier system by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Or...just have a reader...'capture' the person's personal RFID number...and then, transmit that number for yourself or someone else....

      Would be fun to see tons of snooty sales people running up to a guy dressed like a bum...

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  2. I'm reminded... by Spytap · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...of the scene in Minority Report where he walks into The Gap and based on his retina scan is offered another set of pants similar to the ones he's bought there before...
    It creeped me out then and it creeps me out now.

    1. Re:I'm reminded... by GigsVT · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Should it though?

      If you lived in a small, isolated, town, the shopkeepers there would know far more about you than these corporations will ever be able to milk from audit trails.

      You don't hear people complaining when their waitress remembers what they like to drink...

      I'm mostly playing devil's advocate here, I value my privacy as much as anyone.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    2. Re:I'm reminded... by WormholeFiend · · Score: 5, Interesting

      "I would if she wrote it down and faxed it to every other store that paid her a buck for the info."

      There's this Starbucks I regularly visit. I'm quite peculiar with how I like my favourite drink prepared, and I've asked for it so many times, that at some point they started making it as soon as they saw my face.

      But the thing is, I don't always order the same drink everyday, so after preparing a few for nothing, they've learned to wait til I ordered before starting to prepare it.

      Humans are fickle. Put that in your paper trail, and smoke it.

  3. Technical information on RFID? by JBMcB · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What's involved in reading an RFID? Is there a standard on what is on an RFID, with vendor ID's set aside as in Ethernet MAC addresses, or is it just a generic number format like with barcodes?

    It would be interesting to get a nice, sensitive, portable RFID antenna hooked up to a laptop and go, uhm, war-walking...

    --
    My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.