Steve Halliday

From the editor's desk!

We are working hard to get back on schedule and as you read this it should be around the beginning of December. The next issue will be out in the beginning of January, so now is my chance to wish you all a great holiday time and a happy new year.

Now that you have had a chance to savor the delights of the first issue of the i3World Express, we are going to tantalize you further this month, as we bring you news and issues from around the world. As the various players in this rapidly growing movement sit at their desks, they are thinking of how the Integrated Item-Intelligent World is solving the problems around them. They are looking at their data in new ways as they seek to find the most efficient solution to their problems. Are you aware of the issues? Do you know how to solve those issues that have plagued you in your business? Do you know who to talk to for help?
These are some of the questions that we are working to answer. You can have the benefits of the expertise that this growing team can provide. So make sure you sign up now to join the group and enjoy all the benefits that membership brings.
For those of you who subscribed to my previous newsletters - I hope that you will stick with us as we grow into something that will bring you the information you have been looking for. We will keep supplying you with the news of AIDC technologies and the opportunities around the world, but we will be adding more in depth articles to give you the knowledge that you need.

Of course, we also want to hear from you. Let us know how we are doing. This month we have had several emails from people who are happy with the growth of content in the newsletter, and we have several suggestion of ways to improve the issues even further. We will be implementing these in the coming months. E-mail me at news@hightechaid.com and tell us what you think. Don’t forget to send this issue to your friends so that they can sign up for their own issue at www.hightechaid.com.
The newsletter will continue to be free for the next few issues, then you will need to subscribe or become a member. For basic technology details you can visit www.hightechaid.com where you will find descriptions of the basic technologies. For more details on the i3World, you are invited to visit www.i3world.org and learn about the various programs that will help you achieve your goals.
The problem with publishing a newsletter with topical subjects and links to the news around the world is that the links we publish are often out of our control. Although all the links are verified before we send out the newsletter, sometimes the web sites change before you can click on that link. If you end up with an error message try a search of the site in the link to find the topic. Magazines and newspapers, often move content on their sites, but you can usually find it with a little work.
With the first issue we had some slight problems which should all be fixed now but if you have troubles then copy and paste the full link in your browser. Don’t forget, you can get back issues of the newsletter here.

From the Professor!

Professor Anthony Furness

We live in a world that is almost dominated by Information and Communications Technology (ICT), to the extent that it has prompted the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to publish a 200 page report, “Sustainability at the Speed of Light”.
This report considers the future influences of ICT and the role that they may play in assisting the sustainability of the environment.
This may be seen as a significant and potentially important report, yet like so many other considerations and literature concerning the impact of ICT on our future it fails to recognise the breadth and depth of item-attendant technologies for identification and management, collectively referred to within the industry as Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC).
To be fair the WWF report draws attention to the MIT Auto-ID vision for universal item tagging and the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) for tagging and tracking of animals.
Unfortunately, these are not the only technologies and visionary views to be found on this aspect of what may be termed item-attendant ICT.
Consequently, the deficiency may be seen in any assertions that may be made in respect of their influences upon sustainability of the environment. The same point applies to other attempts to distinguish the impact of ICT in which insufficient coverage is given to AIDC and its broadening base with respect to item-attendant technologies and associated principles of data management.
It is also an issue with respect to management exploiting the benefits of ICT. Bill Gates, for example, in his acclaimed book ‘Business at the Speed of Thought’ asserts the need to ‘get data into digital form at the point of origin’ and yet provides insufficient coverage in my view of the item-attendant technologies that can assist this process.
So where is the problem? The short answer is lack of awareness. The more involved answer resides in the fact that these technologies and associated principles, which may be regarded as a subject in their own right, are not generally seen to be part of mainstream ICT. They are not included in ICT education and training courses. Very little if anything is included in ICT text books and media presentations, and our ICT practitioners only become aware of the potential through industrial channels and through contact with end users.
i3W is largely underpinned by these technologies, principles and developments, and part of the i3W Office remit is to promote and participate in their positioning within mainstream ICT. This is a task that requires the attention of academics and educational organisations world-wide and the support of the technology providing industries. The i3W Academic Network is being established to help achieve this goal. The i3W Office would be pleased to hear from academics and industrial bodies interested in participating or supporting this venture.
(see November article 4 or contact tony.furness@tic.ac.uk)

TECHNOLOGY NEWS BRIEFS

BIOMETRICS

UK Info on Biometrics
Two useful sources of information on Biometrics can be found at: the UK Governments Biometrics Working Group and the Association for Biometrics

What is Biometrics?
A new national survey shows that still only half the general public is aware of such technologies.
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Biometrics Bill of Rights
The Nov. 7 issue of Business Week quotes statistics suggesting that many Americans believe that every adult will have at least one Biometric ID on file before the decade’s end. However, there are still issues regarding the use and distribution of biometrics that need to be resolved.
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Face Recognition
This Australian company claims to have a system that is “capable of detecting one particular face among thousands – even if the person is in disguise.”
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UK Uses Biometrics
The Nationwide (UK’s largest Building Society) plans to roll out signature capture and verification in 2003.
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Biometrics on Probation?
Biometric enabled kiosks installed at locations in several boroughs in New York city allow offenders on probabtion to report their location and progress.
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The Eye’s have it?
See how iris scanning is being used at Airports to allow access to secure areas.
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Facial Recognition Test Results
Results from the the DoD Counterdrug Technology Development Program Office evaluation of face recognition technology at a chokepoint are now available.
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Biometrics confirms Identity
The Hawaii Biometrics Conference in Waikiki reports that Biometrics is taking off in the field of Identification.
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A Futurist Comments
Suddenly everyone is looking at Biometrics to solve the problem of security.
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Biometrics Report
The Biometrics Industry is trying to bring biometrics technologies closer to widescale adoption with consortiums and committees to oversee the standards. Allied Business Intelligence (ABI) believes this will prove to be a key catalyst for biometrics vendors to significantly increase their revenue in the 2003 – 2004 timeframe. ABI’s research indicates that fingerprint scanning devices will account for 36% of all biometrics devices shipped in 2002. Their new report “Biometrics Systems : Worldwide Deployments, Market Drivers and Major Players” examines the deployment of biometrics systems.
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RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION

Human Implanted Chips
The US Food and Drug Administration finished its review of Human Implantable RFID devices and sales of the devices will start again immediately. Applied Digital Solutions had voluntarily withdrawn sales until the report was published.
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Meanwhile in the UK!
The UK Home Office is also looking at this technology.
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Locate that item
Need help finding a lost or stolen item? Here are some ideas to help you before those items go missing.
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Is RFID too expensive?
One view on the widespread use of RFID and the cost of the tags.
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Gillette to Purchase 500 Million EPC Tags
Attendees at the MIT Auto-ID Center’s meetings held in Cambridge Mass. last week heard Dick Cantwell, Gillette’s VP of worldwide beauty care products, announce that Gillette has plans to purchase 500 million RFID Tags from Alien Technology. There has been no official press release on this yet, and there are no details available about delivery, price or where the readers can be purchased. We are waiting for more information.

UK London Underground uses RFID
London Underground and Transport for London start to roll out the “Oyster” smart-card program, a £1.2bn, 17-year project intended to ultimately replace current ticketing systems.
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Contactless Smartcards in Asia
Two new programs using Contactless Smart Cards should be watched with interest.
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NTIA Study causes problems for Savi
A study by NTIA suggests that allowing the operation of RFID tags in the 425-435 MHz band will increase the likelihood of interference to critical government radars.
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IDENTIFICATION & SECURITY

Federal Aviation Administration to be Modernized
A presidential commission will recommend full funding for the FAA’s 10-year modernization plan.
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Transportation Security Administration looks for Technology
The TSA is looking for products to be used in programs to help make airports more secure.
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Big Brother is watching?
News from the Pentagon suggests that a database of all our buying habits is needed to help win the war on terror.
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SMART CARD

Frequent Travelling ID
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is getting ready for testing of its program to use smart cards to speed up access to airport facilites.
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Gemplus posts 3rd Quarter results – down!
Gemplus, the French Smart Card vendor reported lower financial results (Q3 revenue down 2% vs Q2). Still operating at a loss.
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US Smart card Shipments up
The Smart Card Alliance announced that shipments of Smart cards in the USA totaled more than 31 million cards for the first half of 2002. This compares with 14.8 million for the same period in 2001.
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RFID Standards

Not a lot of news this month in the ISO RFID standards world as we wait for the ISO 18000 documents to wind their way through the balloting process. We will have results in January and February and the various documents will be reviewed in the light of the various comments made and hopefully they will all be moved on to the next stage of the process.
In other arenas, The ANSI INCITS T6 committee met this month and have better defined their work program on a multi-standards reader. This activity should see the start of a document at their next meeting. The goal is to define a standard for a reader that can deal with several different air-interfaces in one device.
The ISO TC104/122 Joint Working Group on Supply Chain Applications of RFID has its first meeting in the first week of December. We will report more on this activity in the next issue.
The MIT Auto-ID Center had a Board Meeting in November and we understand that the specifications for the UHF air interface will soon be released for public review. Check at to see if it has been published yet.

BAR CODE

Copy Protected 2D barcode
The United Cricket Board in South Africa have decided to implement a bar coded ticket to eliminate forgery.
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Biometric Bar Coded Driver’s Licenses
Georgia have announced that they will be among the first states to put Biometric information in a bar code on a driver’s license.
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Invisible Bar Code
Xerox have announced a solution to print an invisible bar code over any document.
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HOMELAND SECURITY

Bush Signs Bill
President Bush signed legislation Monday creating a new Department of Homeland Security devoted to preventing domestic terror attacks. He promised it ``will focus the full resources of the American government on the safety of the American people.’’ The president picked Tom Ridge as the department’s first secretary.
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Homeland Security Bill moves on
The homeland security bill passed Nov. 13 by the House relies heavily on technology to safeguard the nation.
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Homeland Security Department Priorities
The USA government has published a priority list for this new department.
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Port Security?
Will the funding for securing US Ports be approved.
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WIRELESS COMPUTING

New Specifications
At Comdex, November 19, 2002, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) announced new specifications, OMA Release Program and additional industry forum consolidation. OMA is committed to driving open standards and interoperable mobile services across the world. The OMA Release Program initially includes seven new enablers, comprised of specifications that are the building blocks for mobile services worldwide. These enablers are mobile browsing, Multimedia Messaging (MMS), Digital Rights Management (DRM), Domain Name Server (DNS) lookup via mobile devices, mobile content download, e-mail push notification, the Instant Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) enabler, and user/device profiles.
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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

UK Patent Office not ready
The UK Patent Office is not yet ready to conform to the new European Copyright Directive. 
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RFID Adhesive Tape
A new U.S. Patent has been awarded to inventor Harvey Epstein of Newton, MA for “packaging tape with radio frequency identification technology.” This joins the other thousand or so patents out there.
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Intermec Licenses RFID
Intermec Technologies Corp. today introduced a global program to license its Intellitag® radio frequency identification technology. According to the terms of the new program, Intermec will offer non-exclusive royalty bearing licensing of pertinent RFID intellectual property pertaining to its application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) “chips,” inlays (inserts), transponders (tags), and fixed and portable interrogators (readers or base stations), all components of an RFID system. The IP includes over 180 patents.
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GENERAL TECHNOLOGY

A Robot’s Eyes?
A silicon retina that works like “electronic vision” was unveiled at 15th IEEE International ASIC/SoC Conference in Rochester, NY, USA .
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Making Smaller Circuits
Researchers at IBM have shown a new “molecule cascade” technique which enabled the scientists to make working digital-logic elements about 260,000 times smaller than those used in today’s most advanced semiconductor chips.
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Supply Chain Information
Before adjourning, the US Congress cleared for Presidential signature the Enterprise Integration Act (H.R. 2733), legislation that would authorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology to work with manufacturing companies to develop standards for information exchange to ensure the seamless flow of information up and down the supply chain.
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Pictures, Harry Potter Style
Scientists are developing technologies to bring together the printing press and television and give us moving pictures on paper.
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Semiconductor Chip sales up
Being driven by wireless technology growth.
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Green Chips
Current semiconductor manufacturing processes cost billions of dollars a year to clean up. A new process from Los Alamos laboratory uses no water, few chemicals and no drying process in making chips. The new process could save the industry billions.
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Shipments of Hand-Held Computers Down
Worldwide shipments fell 2.4 percent to 2.55 million from 2.62 million a year earlier, Dataquest said in a statement. U.S. shipments fell 1.4 percent to $1.21 from 1.23 million. Dataquest had earlier reported that worldwide shipments had risen 0.9 percent and U.S. shipments had risen 4.5 percent.
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Wireless is the Way!
A new study indicates that advanced 2.5G and 3G cellular networks are only the beginning as WLAN, Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID) and ultra wideband (UWB) networks will slowly but surely become ubiquitous in all aspects of society. Cumulative revenues, excluding cellular, will likely exceed $33 billion by 2007, according to the study by Allied Business Intelligence (ABI).
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MRP Dead?
Through its standalone Supply Chain Management (SCM) system, J.D. Edwards is plotting to kill off the old, ever-present manufacturing resource planning (MRP) systems.
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i3W @ tic News

‘Talking Barcodes’ Validation Trial
Talking Barcodes is a European funded project, involving a consortium of organisations led by the Belgium SME Technologie & Integratie and including research partners tic, Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems team, the University of Ghent and the Dutch technology transfer organisation TNO, based in Eindhoven. The project is directed at helping the visually impaired, dyslexic and non-reader communities by developing facilities that can transform encoded text, carried in high capacity matrix codes, into intelligible speech. The first user-validation trial of the Talking Barcode system took place during November at the ‘thinktank’, the progressive museum of science and industry in Birmingham, England, yielding very positive responses from those involved. Users found the system easy to use and enjoyed being able to find information without needing another person helping them.
(See the article - ‘Talking Barcodes’ Validation Trial on page 8)

LCX Smart Cylinder – Item-Attendant Data in Action in Fire Service Support
The automatic Identification and Intelligent systems team within tic have been working with, and continue to work with the American company Luxfer Gas Cylinders, in developing a tagging and maintenance support system, wherein read-write radio-frequency identification (RFID) data carriers have been integrated into the high-pressure gas cylinders used in fire-service self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The RFID tag acts as a local data cache and allows a subset of key, cylinder related, information to be carried on the cylinder itself, with the historic data contained in a remote repository.
This approach ensures that the most recent cylinder information is held at the point of use, namely on the cylinder itself, and that the remote data source can be refreshed when connectivity can be achieved. The project demonstrates many of the i3W principles for integrated item-management.
(See the full article)

Keynote Address ‘Fitness from Diversity, Power from Integration’ at Data Capture Europe
Prof. Keith Osman, Centre Manager for Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems, and i3W, at tic gave the keynote address at the recent Data Capture Europe conference held in Cologne (5-6th November), entitled, Fitness From Diversity, Power From Integration For Open Systems Solutions – A Model For Global AIDC Business Systems. The presentation drew attention to a number of the issues embraced in the i3W concept.
(See the full article)

Overview Presentation at Consortium Meeting for Smart Active Labels (SALs)
Prof. Anthony Furness, Consultant Technologist and i3W Manager, Centre for Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems, tic, was invited to present the technology overview for the newly formed Smart Active Label (SAL) Consortium at its launch, organised by Axess Technologies Ltd (www.axesstechnologies.com), in Slough, England on 22nd November 2002. The meeting attracted over 75 delegates from around the world and representatives from many companies (including its sponsors, Axess Technologies, Bank of America, Chep, Graphic Solutions and PowerPaper), world-wide, demonstrating considerable interest in the developments that are facilitating this area of active RFID technology.
(See the full article)

Item-Assisted Robotics
Prof. Martin Smith, Consultant Technologist and expert in robotics is joining forces with other members of the Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems team and i3W initiative to develop the principles and practice for what is being defined by the team as Item-Assisted Robotics. Opportunities will be presented for consortium-based projects targeted at particular industry sectors and practical application needs. For further details and opportunities for participation contact
tony.furness@tic.ac.uk

Knowledge Continuum for more effective Supply Chain Management
i3W at tic has launched a study into the nature of knowledge, in contrast to information, and the problems encountered in communicating and using knowledge within processes and between companies and nodes within supply chains. John Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in Supply Chain Management is collaborating with members of the Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems team to define and pursue the study, in which i3W is being seen as the integrated approach required for solving such problems. For further details and opportunities for participation contact
tony.furness@tic.ac.uk

i3World ISSUES AND FEATURES

i3W AIDC Academic & Industry Specialists Conference and Call for Papers

As a result of representations from i3World International partners, members of the Automatic Identification Center of Ohio University and participants in the International Academic Conference held in Cairo (2000) a second international academic conference has been proposed to run alongside the European i3World Showcase to be held in London over 10-14th March 2003.
The target is to attract up to 60 academics and industry specialists from around the world which will give a boost to the i3W academic programme. There will be a nominal registration fee of $300 to cover conference fees, meals and social programme.
The proposed one and half day conference programme will focus upon i3W and comprise four categories of papers, to be addressed on the main day of the Conference:
i3W Foundation Papers covering foundation topics such as data-structures, encoding and decoding, error control, data-exchange and communications theory.
i3W Applications, covering any sector of application and application methodology and dealing with the more technical principles and technologies involved.
i3W Future Topics, dealing with research projects, new technology and new principles.
i3W Education Topics, covering papers dealing with any i3W or i3W related education programmes and concepts.
The second morning of the conference will be devoted to an i3W Development Forum looking at the issues and opportunities for i3W development.
Papers are now being sought for both days. Further information, including guidelines for authors, template, timetable and background information of i3W may be obtained here or anthony.furness@virgin.net

Talking Barcodes
Validation Trial
Maggie Gibson, Technologist, tic

Background
Talking Barcodes is a European funded IST project, developed through the Fifth Framework programme. It involves a consortium of organisations, each with a particular area of expertise, led by Belgian SME Technologie & Integratie. The tic Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems team is one of three Research and Development partners in the programme which also include the University of Ghent and the Dutch technology transfer organisation TNO, based in Eindhoven.
Text-based documents continually put print-disabled people at a disadvantage. This group of people includes the visually impaired, but also those millions who suffer from dyslexia and individuals who cannot read. Some provision is often made – large print and audio tape versions of documents can be requested. However, this usually requires the print-disabled individual to read a letter or set of instructions first in order to make a specific application, and they are likely to find this difficult. The aim of the project is to reduce the difficulty this group of people has in accessing information, and thus avoid discriminating against them, by developing a product that gives the print-disabled immediate access to written information.
(See the full article)

Free Space Optics – Last mile connectivity?
One of the most recent and important developments for companies has been eCommerce through which a rapidly increasing number of business transactions take place. However, not all businesses are geographically positioned in a location where connection to all services is possible. The distance from a communications link is often less than a mile, but the cost of installing the fibre optic links required by eCommerce which deliver high performance multimedia services is simply too high.
From an i3W perspective, being able to solve this problem will provide a further significant step in enhancing connectivity for integrated solutions.
(See the full article)

i3World PRODUCT & EVENTS

We’re hosting the 4th Executive Marketing Summit

Based on the very successful USA formula, i3World are planning to host this fourth summit as an overall introductory event to the i3World Showcase Europe. In the year 2000 more than 80 executives of companies involved in products and systems that capture, track, transfer and use event driven information came together to establish an agenda with the purpose of helping focus on topics which they collectively agreed were critical. Today the economy is dramatically different.
So too are the challenges.
This next Summit will enable a diverse group of executives to meet, exchange ideas and develop a strategy to enable their companies to reach more deeply into existing and/or new markets. As in the past “visionary” delegates will be invited to serve on a panel that will explain the opportunities, challenges and approaches as they see them. By the end of the summit a simple, high level strategy will have been developed that can benefit all - but be implemented individually or in partnership. Ongoing information from neil@i3world.org

GUEST EDITORIAL

Tim Hankins, Chief Executive, Intellident.

The recent informal statements concerning the intention of Gillette to order 500,000,000 “chips” from Alien Technologies raises some interesting issues.
I find no problem in recognising the business case from Gillette. As I understand it, Wal-Mart require suppliers to add an EAS function to products supplied to their stores – and this is to be undertaken at the cost of the supplier.
Gillette have a large but indeterminent quantity of their products stolen from store shelves and these never pass a “point of sale” system which would decrement the store stock accurately. This leads to under stocking situations which must cost Gillette millions of $ annually.
If Wal-Mart’s requirements could be met and at the same time provide an “added value” to Gillette with financial gains, we have a win-win scenario.
Both parties could gain financially from a very low cost “tag” which could provide the EAS functionality and (with shelving antennae’s) also detect multiple product removal from the shelf via the products individual number plate.
Gillette’s recent informal announcement is being hailed as a significant endorsement for the MIT initiative relating to electronic product codes and low cost item tagging. In my view the announcement is simply a cost effective solution for anti-theft from particularly configured and specially reserved shelving in Wal-Mart stores – hardly the “Internet of things” but nevertheless a huge “niche” market for suppliers of enhanced EAS systems.
I will watch with great interest for other announcements relating to the supplychain benefits of this initiative and for some timescale guidelines. t.hankins@intellident.co.uk

BITS & BYTES

GPS Used to manage inmates in Mississippi
“We are going to be the first Court in the State of Mississippi and probably the only municipal Court in the USA to use GPS monitoring on offenders” says Judge Tom Payne, Chief Judge for the Gulf Port Municipal Courts. “As the largest municipal Court in Mississippi we handle over 40,000 cases per year, many of which involve domestic violence and stalking. tracNET24 with its GPS monitoring capabilities provides us with a clear map of offender’s movements, helping us prevent serious assaults or possibly even deaths. There is no doubt this technology will increase public safety”.

Mobitex Network gets installed in China
Two new wireless data networks that will operate in the Peoples Republic of China were announced at the annual meeting of the Mobitex Operator’s Association. In addition to China two new Mobitex networks have made their debut in Brazil in the past 12 months.

Egypt’s Unified Network Solution
To deliver its vision of an intelligent city, Citystars Heliopolis in Cairo is implementing a comprehensive unified networking solution, which will provide data, video, voice and television services to users throughout its complex.

Emirates Group
roll out secure ID Solution
Security has obviously become an increasingly high profile subject within the airline industry. Emirates Group have opted to deploy a solution which provides its flight and cabin crew with SecurID tokens which generate a new code every 60 seconds and a user pin number, both of which they require to access information via the web. Users now have something that they know – their PIN number – and something that they have – their token, which changes every 60 seconds. A password is used once and after 60 seconds it has expired. With Emirates crew continually travelling the Globe the group needed a reliable and secure solution that would enable employees to access information over the web from locations such as Internet cafes.

Net User Statistics
The Global number of internet users is expected to reach 655 million people by the end of this year, compared to 500 million at the end of last year – according to estimates in a report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

PRESS RELEASES

A regular feature of i3World Express will be a summary of interesting press releases from around the world. Here are this month’s selections.

World Economic Forum Names Savi Technology’s Vikram Verma One Of 40 ‘Technology Pioneers For 2003’
Entrepreneurs Selected to Engage in Dialogue with World Leaders on New Technologies that Can Help Transform Business and Society
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Nov. 12, 2002 - Vikram Verma, 38, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Savi Technology, was named this week by The World Economic Forum as one of 40 “Technology Pioneers for 2003”.  Verma will be involved in ongoing dialogues with world economic leaders on a variety of far-reaching issues affecting business and society, such as how innovative technologies can improve the global community by transforming the way business and society operates.
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Lockheed Martin to Use Metrologic Technology on Automated Package Processing System for U.S. Postal Service Project
AOA Subsidiary Receives $6.8 Million Contract
Blackwood, New Jersey - November 1, 2002 — Metrologic Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS: MTLG), a leading manufacturer of sophisticated imaging systems using laser, holographic, camera and vision-based technologies, high-speed automated data capture solutions and bar code scanners, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Adaptive Optics Associates (“AOA”), has received initial funding of $1.73 million on a $6.8 million contract by Lockheed Martin to provide data collection subsystems for a U.S. Postal Service program.
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Escort Memory Systems Changes Management
Scotts Valley, Ca., November 11, 2002: Escort Memory Systems, a majority-owned subsidiary of Datalogic S.p.A. and a leading supplier of RFID components and solutions, recently announced a change in the leadership of the company. Luciano Mattioli, a 28-year veteran of Datalogic, takes over as President and CEO, replacing Mark Nicholson. In making this change, the company believes a closer cooperation with the parent company will allow EMS to leverage its capabilities and allow it to penetrate the RFID marketplace in a stronger and more efficient manner. The company believes that great gains can be made by coordinating technical and marketing activities, by accessing Datalogic’s worldwide distribution strength and opening the possibility for greater capital infusion.
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Printronix Inks Alliance With Symbol Technologies
New relationship promotes Printronix’s industry-leading wireless and Web-enabled thermal printer, achieving compliance with Symbol technology
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 4, 2002 – Printronix Inc. (NASDAQ: PTNX), the leading manufacturer of integrated enterprise printing solutions for the supply chain, today announced a strategic alliance with Symbol Technologies Inc. (http://www.symbol.com/investors” NYSE:SBL), a global leader in mobile information management systems. Under the terms of the agreement, Printronix will market and sell worldwide the TPS5000, a Symbol-branded wireless-enabled industrial thermal bar code printer line manufactured by Printronix.
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SAMSys sign
range of agreements . . .

TORONTO, - SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY:TSX-VEN) (“SAMSys”), a world leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions, announced it has signed the following value-added reseller (VAR) agreements:

. . . with LG&P In-Store Agency, an industry leader in the development and execution of in-store marketing programs. Under this agreement, SAMSys will provide their SmartShelf solutions to LG&P, which provide retailers and manufacturers with real-time information about consumer actions, shelf inventory, and product merchandising.
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. . . with VeriCode Systems, a leader in fully integrated labeling and tracking solutions. Under this agreement, SAMSys’ full line of RFID readers will be integrated with VeriCode’s Pallet Track and Carton Track solutions that provide manufacturers and distributors with real-time information needed to keep manufacturing and shipping operations running smoothly and efficiently.
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. . . with John Voris Industrial Engineering Group, a leading manufacturing and distribution process engineering and solutions firm. Under this agreement, select SAMSys’ RFID readers will be integrated with JVIE’s radio frequency (RF) routing solution for conveyor systems.
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. . . with Wallace, a leading print management service provider. Under this agreement, SAMSys’ broad array of RFID reader products will be integrated with Wallace’s full-range of RFID application offerings. Wallace incorporates RFID technology into smart labels with its wide range of label production capabilities to offer customer solutions that drive out cost in their supply chain and provide intelligent smart tracking of products or processes.
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. . . with Alpha Software, a leading software solution provider to provide RFID solutions to automate the supply chain.
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. . . and a Distribution Agreement with A.C.C. Systems Inc., the contract manufacturing specialists. Under this agreement, A.C.C. Systems will sell SAMSys’ RFID readers to its value-added reseller (VAR) and systems integrator network that spans across several industries including commercial, medical, transportation, warehouse, military, and automotive.
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iTech Capital Corp. Completes Acquisition of SIRIT Technologies Inc.
VANCOUVER, B.C. AND TORONTO, ONTARIO – November 1, 2002 - iTech Capital Corp. (“iTech”) (TSX: ITE) and SIRIT Technologies Inc. (“SIRIT”) (TSX-V: YSR) are pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition by iTech of all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of SIRIT. The acquisition was effected by way of an amalgamation of SIRIT and a wholly-owned subsidiary of iTech. SIRIT Technologies Inc., the company resulting from the amalgamation, is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of iTech. The SIRIT common shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange at the close of business today.
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Savi Technology Receives ‘It Award Of Excellence’ From The European Institute Of Transport Management
The Institute’s Accreditation Validates Savi’s Proven Success in Providing Real-Time Solutions That Improve the Security, Visibility and Management of Supply Chain Assets
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM. - Nov. 4, 2002 — Savi Technology, a leading provider of real-time solutions for global supply chain security and asset management based in California’s Silicon Valley, announced today that it has been named a recipient of the European Institute of Transport Management’s “IT Award of Excellence 2002-Supply Chain Visibility and Security Provider”, following an accreditation process reviewing the company’s technology, customer validations and proven results.
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Plastic Logic Completes £8.75 Million Funding with Second Closing
CAMBRIDGE, UK – 25 November, 2002 – Plastic Logic, a leading developer of plastic electronics technology, announced today a £2.45 million second closing of its first round private financing. With a first closing of £6.3 million announced earlier this year, the total amount raised in this round is now £8.75 million. Participants in the second closing were Bank of America Capital Partners (Chicago, Illinois, USA), Yasuda Enterprise Development Company (Tokyo, Japan), St John’s College (Cambridge, UK) and Steve Kahng (Palo Alto, California, USA). The company’s existing lead investors are Amadeus Capital Partners (London & Cambridge, UK) and PolyTechnos Venture-Partners (Munich, Germany).
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Envirotainer and Savi Technology to provide world’s first real-time Management and Security System for Critical Air Cargo
Savi’s Asset Management Software Enables Envirotainer and its Customers to Gain New Levels of Visibility Into the Status of Air Cargo Containers and Their Contents
KNIVSTA, Sweden and SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Oct. 14, 2002 - Envirotainer AB, the world leader in providing temperature controlled air cargo solutions for sensitive products, today announced it has selected Savi Technology to extend the functionality and capabilities of Envirotainer’s existing information system by deploying  Savi’s powerful software platform and robust asset management and security software applications. The complementary solution will serve as the foundation for the first real-time information sharing network in the $8-billion marketplace for temperature-sensitive air cargo.  Savi Technology’s real-time solution will help Envirotainer to improve the management, security and visibility of temperature controlled air cargo Unit Load Devices (ULDs) and the highly sensitive goods they transport worldwide, such as pharmaceuticals, seafood, meat, produce, and semiconductors.
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Here’s how you can join i3World

If you have not had your 16-page full colour membership prospectus from i3World e-mail: neil@i3world.org today or go now to our special site detailed below where you can find it as a PDF. You can read what people are saying about i3World - including the Secretary of State for the British Government’s Department of Trade and Industry. There is a whole list of deliverables that are available to every member at a nominal cost of only $600 or 600 Euros or £450. Take a more detailed look across a whole range of industries and markets, at where we are today and where with i3W we could be tomorrow. i3World should not be confused with your regular industry association which often provides localised add-value benefits and services. We will be concentrating on delivering a range of materials which we believe will help everyone in the Information Communication Technology arena become more aware of the opportunities that interlinking technologies offer. When you add the academic foundation materials produced by tic and their global network of academic partners you can see just how important the concept and vision is to your business. And when you examine the modular programmes that are being developed you can judge for yourselves the work that has gone into the vision over the last twelve months. Now we are ready to share it with the world.
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THE FINAL COMMENT

We always try to find something to keep away those boring evenings while you wait to get back to work. This month is no exception, try these:

Sun to Explode – or maybe not!
A news item that gave us only six years, seems to have been slightly off target.
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followed by the real story
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Steve Wright
He once said “ I woke up one morning and all of my stuff had been  stolen...and replaced by exact duplicates.” Want more of his words of wisdom?
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Cat Herding
You have probably heard the phrase “Like herding cats”. Did you know that it really happens? Set the left panel to “Alphabetical,” then select, “Cat Herding,” and click the Play Video button.
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Press the Button
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Is it a clown or your boss?
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Concentration
Find pairs of cards.
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or for a tough one
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Coordination? Not me!!
I did not do well on this one.
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Test your IQ
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The Fine Print
The i3World Express Electronic Newsletter is published monthly and is available free of charge to all members of i3World and to the Founding Partners.
Alternatively you can subscribe purely for the newsletter and the quarterly i3World Journal which is available at a cost of: $250 or 250 Euros or £175 per annum. www.i3worldnews.org/files/subsapp.pdf 
Your first subscription will cover you to the end of 2003 and include 14 electronic newsletters and five issues of the Journal. The newsletter will generally be published around the middle of each month. Please tell us what extra you want from the newsletter and don’t forget to tell your friends to subscribe. You can forward your ideas to news@hightechaid.com. No part of the newsletter may be reproduced without written permission. No liability is accepted for any action arising from the contents of the newsletter; readers are advised to seek professional opinion on the use of any products described. Opinions expressed in any article by an outside contributor are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers of the newsletter.

© i3World International Ltd. 2002