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Chemical, Printable RFIDs
Syre writes "The RFID Journal says that CrossID, an Israeli startup, has developed an RFID system that can be printed using an inkjet printer. The 'nanometric' RFID system uses tiny particles of chemicals with varying degrees of magnetism that resonate when bombarded with electromagnetic waves from a reader. Since the system uses up to 70 different chemicals, each chemical is assigned its own position in a 70-digit binary number. 'Previously, there has been no way to protect paper documents,' says Moshe Glickstein, CrossID cofounder. 'We have created the first firewall for paper documents.' The big advantage is that the tag can be printed on just about anything. 'It's as easy to create as a printed bar code. And we can print in invisible mode for extra security. Printing the tags cost less than 1 cent each.' Their FAQ
says that 'CrossID can be read from quite a long distance'. No word on whether it can be user-disabled..."
Seriously, though, if they worked it in as a watermark or into the text itself, probably not.
--- Bwah?
RFID is considered the replacement for bar codes, the goal was 5 cent tags to justify making every item over a dollar (US) with a tag. This technique seems to achieve that. The thing about RFID is every single item (ie not brand name: product name like UPC) is unique and can be identified remotely. RFID has much potential for good, but like all things misuse will and probably has occured. They have been used in stores unbeknowst to customers. Another commonly cited example is that of MITs student IDs which had(still have?) RFID technology in them though most students at a privacy workshop were unaware of that fact. All very interesting.
Just responding to this, but the article says 10 feet and no collision detection, that seems high to me but a paper could have a relatively large anntena-the thing that most determines read distance, aside from passive/active tags(if you know anything about this this example is obviously passive) but active tags have read ranges in free space of well over a 100 meters. hope this clarifies your understanding. Besides it seems the primary aplication for this company is document authentication, other uses of course exist and can be exploited, as I mentioned in a paper I wrote on the subject of RFID: Wal-Mart is pushing it, Wal-Mart is also pushing active/changable Point of sale signs, 1984 ring a bell? Despite the redundancy: tin hat on, though Coca Cola has been involved in RFID and they produce metal objects with high water content so good engineering can get around some technical difficulties but not the laws of physics... of course particles (photons included) can pass impassible objects (infinetly steep potential wells are the classic example: look up wavefunctions..off topic) by the laws of quantum mechanics. I tend to go off topic esspecially when it comes to physics -sorry- but 'nough said.
You're right, you don't get it.
It makes the papers in your office (or a protected government facility) synonymous with items in a store.
If you try to take something you shouldn't out of a store, an alarm sounds.
Likewise, with these tags printed on paper, if you tried to remove the papers from the office an alarm could sound. Like a firewall for paper.
Why does RFID open this door? Why can't UPC codes be used the same way?
The RFID readers can do it passively, and can identify the customer based on what they're wearing/carrying - UPC codes can't be used for that passively.
Last I checked, some of the RFID numbering is at least 48-bit, but I'm sure they can go further than that. Still enough for tracking most people's possessions.
Since another Sign of the "End Times" is the ubiquitous appearance of the Mark of the Best on foreheads or hands everywhere,
Mark of the Best? Like Best Buy? How evil...
I wouldn't be surprised to see Fundies being all for it, on the theory that the sooner the Beast comes, the sooner Christ follows.
No... They'd be thrilled to see it, but certainly against anything that'd require them to get stamped.
Revelation 14:9-11
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Eventually (to spoil the ending for you) they get cast into a lake of fire in 19:20.
Its called a smallpox inoculation. They stopped around 1970 or so... I have one and I was born in 1969.. (69! Social! Everyone drink!)
"This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence" - Vyvyan "The Young Ones"
In World-War II, despite laws to the contrary the Census Department's data was used to locate and round up Japenese Americans for "interment" (see here) And, while the truth has indeed come out as most sanctimonious defenders of PATRIOT Et al, insist it will, it came out 50 years later. The pendulum it seems is quite slow.