pro - Tags are extremely small, readers are cheap, tags are cheap con - Range, non-existant I wouldn't say that the range on passive tags is non-existant. For example, UHF tags (EPC Class 1 Generation 2), which are currently the most used tag type in industrial applications, have a maximum read range of about 7 meters (20 feet). In practice, however, the range is about half that in order to achieve acceptable reading accuracy. Another thing to take into account with UHF frequencies is that some materials (such as liquids) will block the reading of tags.
Being currently in my seventh month of service, I can also confirm this. Bringing in a laptop and using your cell phone as a tool to connect to the internet is not hard at all. Most people also have free time at least a couple of times a week, as well as the weekends. The first two months (basic training) are probably the period with the least amount of free time, but after that it can get easier.
The army isn't only about learning how to kill as many enemies as possible with your rifle, though. "Internet addicts" such as these are most likely skilled with computers, and should be able to get into some of the more specialized technical schools that are available after their basic training. There are jobs for coders, graphical designers, administrators, etc.
If you're also interested in officer training, schools such as the Signal and Electronics School in Riihimäki (Viesti- ja Sähkötekninen Koulu) train reserve officers and NCOs that do some slightly more important jobs during their last 5 months of service, and leave the army with a work diploma. Having just completed the computer course at the aforementioned school, I can heartily recommend it to any nerd such as myself who also wants to be trained as an officer and get as much out of the mandatory service here as possible. There are quite a few nice perks, not the least which is being able to work inside on a computer during the days, instead of crawling around in the forests -- especially now, during the terrible weather that we've been having in northern Europe.;)
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pro - Tags are extremely small, readers are cheap, tags are cheap
con - Range, non-existant I wouldn't say that the range on passive tags is non-existant. For example, UHF tags (EPC Class 1 Generation 2), which are currently the most used tag type in industrial applications, have a maximum read range of about 7 meters (20 feet). In practice, however, the range is about half that in order to achieve acceptable reading accuracy. Another thing to take into account with UHF frequencies is that some materials (such as liquids) will block the reading of tags.
Tracking people with UHF tags is also possible.
Being currently in my seventh month of service, I can also confirm this. Bringing in a laptop and using your cell phone as a tool to connect to the internet is not hard at all. Most people also have free time at least a couple of times a week, as well as the weekends. The first two months (basic training) are probably the period with the least amount of free time, but after that it can get easier.
;)
The army isn't only about learning how to kill as many enemies as possible with your rifle, though. "Internet addicts" such as these are most likely skilled with computers, and should be able to get into some of the more specialized technical schools that are available after their basic training. There are jobs for coders, graphical designers, administrators, etc.
If you're also interested in officer training, schools such as the Signal and Electronics School in Riihimäki (Viesti- ja Sähkötekninen Koulu) train reserve officers and NCOs that do some slightly more important jobs during their last 5 months of service, and leave the army with a work diploma. Having just completed the computer course at the aforementioned school, I can heartily recommend it to any nerd such as myself who also wants to be trained as an officer and get as much out of the mandatory service here as possible. There are quite a few nice perks, not the least which is being able to work inside on a computer during the days, instead of crawling around in the forests -- especially now, during the terrible weather that we've been having in northern Europe.