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RFID Fitted Throughout Tokyo Ginza Shopping Center

Posted by timothy on from the dadburned-radiation-burns dept.

Liam Cromar writes "In one of several RFID trials being held in Japan, the famous Ginza shopping area in Tokyo has been blanketed with around 10,000 RFID tags and other beacons. The trial got underway earlier this month, and general trials should start on January 21st 2007. Four languages, including English, will be supported by the service, which uses hand-held RFID terminals to get information about shops in the centre, including special offers and restaurant menus."

15 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. Do they know what RFID is for? by partenon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With this you can just push a button and find the where you want to go even if you're drunk! This is the *worst* use of RFID I've ever read about :-) OK, the entire solution is interesting, but does this guy (probably from marketing) knows the uses of a RFID tag?
    --
    ilex paraguariensis for all
  2. Doesn't seem feasible to me by Salvance · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't see how this would ever work. Hardly anyone would be willing to pay for the ability to carry around a little 3 1/2" shopping buddy, and the shopping center would lose their shirt if they just handed them out (since many people would probably walk off with them). Seems like beeming info to shopper' cellphones would be a much more marketable (and profitable) endeavour.

    --
    Crack - Free with every butt and set of boobs
    1. Re:Doesn't seem feasible to me by DrEldarion · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Seems like beeming info to shopper' cellphones would be a much more marketable (and profitable) endeavour

      Knowing Japan, they're already working on getting RFID reading built into their phones. Everything else already is.

    2. Re:Doesn't seem feasible to me by imasu · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Hardly anyone would be willing to pay for the ability to carry around a little 3 1/2" shopping buddy You've never been to Japan, have you?

      and the shopping center would lose their shirt if they just handed them out (since many people would probably walk off with them) You've never been to Japan, have you?

      Seems like beeming info to shopper' cellphones would be a much more marketable (and profitable) endeavour. this is totally true though.
    3. Re:Doesn't seem feasible to me by badasscat · · Score: 2, Informative

      Hardly anyone would be willing to pay for the ability to carry around a little 3 1/2" shopping buddy, and the shopping center would lose their shirt if they just handed them out

      Ginza's technically a city, not a "shopping center" as the headline here suggests. If I lived in Ginza, I'd be pretty offended at my city being basically labeled one big shopping mall!

      (Tokyo itself is not a city; it's a prefecture made up of a couple dozen wards, one of which is Ginza.)

    4. Re:Doesn't seem feasible to me by rpenguin · · Score: 2, Informative

      Tokyo has a slightly different designation than most prefectures (ken) as it is known as Tokyo-to. Additionally there is a Tokyo-shi which is a city on its own that contains various wards. There are a few other shi within Tokyo to, and then there are machi (towns) and, elsewhere, mura (villages) One ward in Tokyo-to is Chuo-ku. Ginza is a district contained within Chuo-ku.

      So maybe next time you're so smug and insulting you can make sure you're not talking out of your ass.

    5. Re:Doesn't seem feasible to me by martinjakubik · · Score: 3, Informative

      The Tokyo governor does not share your qualms. From the article: "'Ginza is the most famous shopping district in Japan,' said Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara at an event to launch the project."

  3. Hello Mr. Yakamoto and welcome back to The Gap! by Volante3192 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Four languages, including English, will be supported by the service, which uses hand-held RFID terminals to get information about shops in the centre, including special offers...

    At least I hope there's headphones attached to this. I doubt I want people around me to hear about special offers regarding bikini cut briefs and wifebeaters...

    It was ONE TIME and I was curious, damnit!

  4. Other Interesting uses by CDMA_Demo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How about a RFID network at the MET and MoMA, or any big museum or children's zoo? Heck, before all this happens we'll see RFIDs in driver licenses.

  5. If It'll Find Me an Eglish Menu... by Copperhead · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...it'll be worth it. Ginza has some very good restaurants, but I feel bad dragging my Japanese-speaking friend out just because I can't read the menus. If the English version will point out which of the restaurants caters to English-speaking guests, I'll be all over it.

    --
    Your reality is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever. - Baron Munchausen
    1. Re:If It'll Find Me an Eglish Menu... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Find a restaurant that has a food display outside, pick one that looks good, and write down its name. Show that to the waiter/waitress. You can show the slip of paper to your friend later to find out just what the heck it was you had ;)

  6. In other news... by WED+Fan · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...Japans Self Defense Forces (JSDF) have stated that they have successfully tagged Godzilla with an RFID, but are having trouble tagging Mothra. Happy Depato owner, Suzuki Tadao, stated, "This is extra glorious day. You don't know the trouble it is to rebuild this store everytime that F*&^ing lizard comes to town. Now with RFID, he will not get in door."

    The JSDF is also considering whether or not to require Team Ultraman to wear RFIDs. Col. Niiyama Michio said, "Sure, that F*&^ing lizard comes to town, and I'm not sure who causes more destruction, him or those F*&^ing super heroes."

    Japan News Agency note to news editors: Shin Nihon Dictionary - Godzilla translates to "that F*&^ing lizard".

    --
    Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong fix.
  7. SUICA RFID debit by rpenguin · · Score: 2, Informative

    In Tokyo there is an RFID based card called "SUICA" (Super Urban Intelligent Card) that can be used for JR trains, several vending machines and some convenience stores. It is possible to get Suica functionality in your phone. Suica is not a "trial" as it replaced the JR designated value cards.

    Also, SUICA penguin mascot ads are plastered everywhere.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica

  8. Re:Ever thought of... by Copperhead · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm working on it. I don't live in Tokyo yet, and I have a tough time learning my Japanese when I'm not there. If and when I move there, I will definitely be learning the language.

    --
    Your reality is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever. - Baron Munchausen
  9. Re:The right tool for the job? by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There's a big difference between tracking people in a voluntary fashion with a wrist bracelet, or giving ordinary people access to the RFID information of the contents of stores, than using it against their will via a national ID card or even a passport where they didn't ask for it and they have no access whatsoever to the data: only the federal government has access to the data, with all the risks and demonstrated incompetence the passport RFID project has demonstrated, and where the risks of forgery are much more demonstrable.