Friday, June 1, 2018

Getting And Using An RFID Reader

By Ruth Fisher


It used to be that in order to keep track of something, one had to use their eyes. Once it was out of sight, it was practically lost. But as society evolved, so did the tools used by humanity. Nowadays, keeping track of something is as easy as slapping a tag on it and using a CSL RFID reader connected, wirelessly or otherwise, to a computer.

RFID stands for radio frequency identification. This is accomplished through tags. Passive tags have no internal or external power source and must use the energy given out by the radio waves being given out by a reader. An active tag is powered by a battery and often has a greater range than a passive tag.

UHF means ultra high frequency. Most wireless communications operate on radio frequencies in some form of another, and uhf is the frequency at which many of the most necessary wireless systems operate on. Wi-Fi, mobile phone coverage, and GPS are among the systems which operate on an ultra high frequency.

In terms of security, using chips and readers can have multiple tags. Using a lock that is connected to an reader, like the kind in hotel rooms, can greatly reduce unauthorized entry. In a retail space, items can also be tagged, which means that if they move past a certain point, security can be alerted.

An RFID chip can also be used to track living creatures. A pet can be embedded with one, making it easier to find in case it wanders off. They have applicability to zoos, for the same reason, to keep track of animals.

But the interesting thing about the technology is that as advanced as it is, there is still room for it to grow. Retail could be streamlined with an RFID reader by simply tagging all the items in a store and then having the reader read note just the items, but also the credit card of a customer to automatically charge the card when a customer walks out, checkout lines and waiting in them would become a thing of the past. RFID chips can also be turned into dust and then ingested in some form or another by a person, thereby introducing the dust into the bloodstream to monitor health and wellness. Of course, there are some privacy concerns, as the technology that keeps track of animals can easily be applied to human beings.

Now, simply picking a reader is easy. There are many that are currently on the market. Picking the right one is the key.

Start with the price. Even a low cost device can cost hundreds of dollars. It might be a solid investment but is still a hefty one to make. Next, is the durability. Some devices will have to remain outside, because cars and trucks can also be tagged. Find one that can withstand being outside.

Technology is great. Humans are great for advancing it so much. As tech advances, human society will change and advance with it.




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