January 2nd 2003

www.hightechaid.com

Steve Halliday

From the editor's desk!

Welcome to 2003. Like many other editors around the world I am writing this editorial in December, so I cannot honestly say that I have seen the last 2002 has to offer, but by the time you read this, we should be starting into the new year. 

2002 has been an interesting year for many of us (myself included), with well known companies disappearing and new ones popping up to take their place. My own life took a different turn when I decided to leave AIM after ten years and setup on my own. While my own decisions turned out very positive, other companies have not had such a good time in 2002. The economy in the USA seems to be on the turn, and so I hope that everyone sees a much brighter and profitable 2003.

I see that RFID in particular will be seeing some major progress in 2003. The "announcement" by Gillette reported in last month's newsletter has certainly got the industry talking. I am pleased to see others stepping up to the plate to provide the services that will be needed to make this kind of announcement a reality (see press releases opposite). I was also pleased to read the AMR Research report on "ePC/RFID" (see RFID below) where the report's summary is something I have been saying for some time. Don't wait, do it now, get involved before your competitors do. The mistakes that you make (and you will make some) are easier handled at the pilot level than in a full scale roll out that has been rushed to catch up. You don't need to have a 5 cent tag to make it worthwhile, but you do need to understand your process. Get the report if you need more information, it makes sense.

You will have noticed that we have changed the format of the newsletter for the new year. After several issues in Adobe Acrobat, we have decided that the simple html format is more suitable for most people.  If your email client is not able to show html, then you should be reading a simple text version. If you are having problems, then let me know at news@hightechaid.com and we try to get it sorted out. Don't forget to tell us what email client you are using.

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 (http://www.i3worldnews.org/register.php) or become a member (http://www.i3worldnews.org/register.php).  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.

From the Professor!

Consumer consciousness and concerns over food safety and hygiene are perhaps higher now than they have ever been. Concerns range from the human risks associated with animal-borne diseases, such as salmonella, bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE), and E-coli O157, to those perceived for genetically modified (GM) vegetables, cereals and fruits. Necessary legislation and solutions aimed at eradicating problems and alleviating consumer concern have global attention.

Traceability is seen as an important support and assurance vehicle in efforts to improve consumer confidence and facilitate an effective means of locating any problems that may arise within the various food supply chains, from raw materials to consumption – the so called ‘plough-to-plate’ coverage. Many traceability systems have already been developed but the need can be seen for developing further traceability structures to accommodate the as yet un-supported specific supply chain needs.

Unfortunately, with increasing globalisation of trade, the need to accommodate food products exploiting a range of ingredient supply chains and the need to support a range of traceability functions, any non-harmonised approach to traceability may result in confusing diversity of systems and impracticalities in handling cross-linking supply chain traceability needs. This prospect was recognised as an issue to be addressed through a European Concerted Action project FoodTrace. The aim of FoodTrace is to define a generic framework for traceability that could serve as a set of guidelines and supporting principles for structuring harmonised traceability systems.

The framework being proposed defines the overall information and access strategies and is based upon the specification of a ‘vertical’ minimalist structure for traceability using ‘licence-plate’, data carrier, coding links for and between supply chains. The framework also defines coding that links the ‘vertical’ structure to the ‘lateral’ nodal structures for storing supply chain information relevant to the particular supply chain requirements and the various traceability functions that need to be supported. It is envisaged that the data structures, carried within the supply chain item-attendant data carriers, will comprise a set of item identification, information identifiers and access codes, exploiting where possible existing legacy systems.

The approach adopts many of the imperatives of the integrated item-intelligent world (i3W) concept, including:

• Item-centric Identification, Data and Function Management.
• Attention to Processes and Process Methodology.
• Attention to Systems Integration.
• Attention to the Nature and Dynamics of Change – allowing, for example, the prospect of defining and accommodating both existing and future traceability functions (for safety, quality assurance, legislative compliance, consumer information and so forth.
• Attention to Legacy – accommodating, as appropriate, existing systems for numbering and identification and existing traceability systems through appropriate identification and coding of information sets.
• Attention to the requirements for Migration – strategies for accommodating change, including the adoption of standards and new technology.  

In addition to satisfying the generic needs for traceability such an approach, in which a diversity of data carrier technologies is recognised, also provides foundations for accommodating, harmonising and managing the complexity of total supply chain traceability functions. Within the European sixth framework programme the prospect is seen for an extensive implementation initiative and opportunities for global collaboration. For further information on FoodTrace and the generic framework visit the FoodTrace website (www.eufoodtrace.org).

TECHNOLOGY NEWS BRIEFS

BIOMETRICS

Biometrics at Borders

The US Government's General Accounting Office (GAO) has just published their Technology Assessment:  Using Biometrics for Border Security. The report is large (242 pages) but very detailed. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-03-174

Bank uses Biometrics

The Union Bank of California has announced it will use biometrics to speed up background checks of employees. http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2002/11/25/
daily8.html

Newborn Infants Protected Against Abduction

Moorestown, NJ, November 20, 2002 – Iridian Technologies today announced that iris recognition now protects access to an infant station in the City Hospital of Bad Reichenhall in Bavaria, Germany. The hospital installed iris recognition to prevent baby abductions. This is the first time the technology has been used for infant protection, as it is more traditionally associated with border control and simplified passenger travel in airports. Iridian Technologies holds the exclusive U.S. and international patents on the core concepts and technologies behind iris recognition – the fastest, most accurate biometric technology available. http://www.iridiantech.com/news.php?page=1&rel=112002

After trying Facial recognition, Boston's Logan Airport is now to start testing Iris Scanning technology as the possible ID badge for its employees. http://news.morningstar.com/news/BW/M11/D25/1038247264247.html

Get your dose of Dilbert

http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/dilbert-20021231.html

RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION

Cost of RFID will fall

A new research report from AMR Research, "ePC/RFID and Its Imminent Effect on the Supply Chain" by Peter Abell, and Catherine Quirk suggests that RFID is at last coming into its own and that with some simple steps it could be cost effective very soon (as early as 2004 for the CPG/Retail Industry).

EU tells HP et al to scrap inkjet 'clever chips'

Prices of printer cartridges look set to drop thanks to a new EU law that will ban printer firms from forcing consumers to buy their own-brand refills. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/28653.html

Speedpass Watch!

The new Speedpass-enabled Timex watch, using RFID technology from Texas Instruments (TI), is now available online to consumers across the nation.  The Speedpass Timex wristwatch is the fastest and easiest way to pay for everything from gas at the pump to fries at McDonald's simply by waving your watch.  The new watch looks and functions like a regular watch with the added benefit of a TI radio frequency transponder inside the timepiece. Customers can instantly pay for purchases at more than 7,500 Exxon and Mobil stations nationwide and 440 participating McDonald's restaurants in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Consumers can choose from the selected styles and place their order by visiting the Timex Web site at http://www.timex.com/speedpass/.

RFID STANDARDS

A first meeting of the ISO working group looking at RFID for Supply Chain Activities met in December in Atlanta GA, USA. The meeting, although a kick-off meeting was very successful with a good start on the needs for the group of standards. Look for a more detailed report on the work of this group in the coming months.

IDENTIFICATION & SECURITY

National ID Card

A national ID card for Estonia uses technology to get the best security it can. http://www.pass.ee/63.html

SMART CARD

Look for that Safe Smart Card

Cryptography Research Inc, have discovered new ways for hackers to gain access to the information on a smart card.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/28489.html

MasterCard announces a Contactless Card

Looking a lot like the Mobil-Exxon SpeedPass system, MasterCard announced PayPass™, in cooperation with Chase, Citibank, MBNA, and various merchants in the Florida marketplace. http://www.mastercardinternational.com/cgi-
bin/newsroom.cgi?id=657

Liverpool Following Manchester City

After Manchester City's use of smart cards, 50,000 Liverpool Football Club fans have been issued with a Fortress GB contactless smart card that will replace traditional paper tickets and season ticket books enabling quicker and easier stadium access. http://www.fortressgb.com/press/prdetail.asp?dfs=30

Smart card coalition loyalty programmes to come

A new business model, with accompanying chip card technology, is being put forward by Smart Chip Technologies and SHC Direct as a platform for smart card-based coalition loyalty programmes for the financial and retail sectors, featuring real-time reward redemptions. SHCDirect (SHCD) and Smart Chip Technologies (SCT) have signed a joint marketing and integration agreement, through which the two companies will co-market and link their loyalty systems to create a new business model for smart card-based coalition programmes. http://www.thewisemarketer.com/news/read.asp?lc=z14776ox510zo

BAR CODE

Bar Code Printers - Selling Well

Supply Chain Systems magazine (January 2003 issue) has an interesting article on printer sales. Statistics from venture development Corp. suggest good growth in printer sales for the future. http://www.idsystems.com/reader/2003/2003_01/bar0103/index.htm

MEMs

Microelectronics, MEMS and Photonics

The Department of Defense (DOD-DARPA) has issued a request for proposals sought for R&D in microelectronics, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), and/or photonics technology involving heterogeneous integration to achieve complex multifunctional systems capabilities in chip-scale packages.  Deadline: Nov. 1, 2003.

http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/SPAWAR/SPAWARSYSCEN_San
_Diego/N66001-03-X-6001/listing.html

HOMELAND SECURITY

Homeland Security – a new law!

On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Homeland Security Act of 2001 (H.R. 5005). This legislation creates a new Cabinet-level Department of Homeland security and brings together over 20 government agencies. Other areas covered by the bill include a $550 million "Acceleration Fund" to provide competitive grants for basic and applied research, development, testing and evaluation and accelerated prototyping of critical homeland security technologies.

Text of H.R. 5005 at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.5005:

White House plan for implementation of H.R. 5005 at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/11/
reorganization_plan.pdf

AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) assessment of Homeland Security R&D at: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/dhs1122.htm

The Transportation Security Administration's proposed registered traveler program could create new aviation vulnerabilities. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1202/web-tsa1-12-02-02.asp

A key part of the new bill will be a larger role for the National Institute for Standards and Technology.
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1202/news-home1-12-02-02.asp

As part of the need for information from the Homeland security Bill, local governments are being asked to provide more Geographic Information System (GIS) data. This is putting a strain on local resources. http://www.fcw.com/supplements/homeland/2002/sup4/hom-gis-12-02-02.asp

The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) have announced that they have awarded a contract to start background checks for airline travelers. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1209/web-tsa-12-11-02.asp

The Defense Agency's Total Information Awareness (TIA) system is being carefully watched by many people. Enabling national security analysts to detect, classify, track, understand and pre-empt terrorist attacks against the United States by spotting patterns using public and private transaction and surveillance methods, the TIA includes biometric technologies, surveillance data and credit card records.
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1216/web-tia-12-16-02.asp

WIRELESS COMPUTING

The Jumpstart Broadband Act will direct the FCC to free up 255MHz of unlicensed spectrum for fast wireless Internet access. Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) are circulating the draft legislation which targets the 5 GHz band for 802.11 based communications to provide compatibility with European spectrum allocations. The bill will be introduced in January when Congress reconvenes.

Sen. Allen's press release: http://www.senate.gov/~allen/PressOffice/11212002.html

Draft legislation:  http://www.senate.gov/~allen/PressOffice/wifi.pdf

The Department of defense in the USA is trying to impose restrictions on the use of radio spectrum for Wi-Fi wireless communications. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/59/28639.html

The Federal Communications Commission issued a call for public comment on the report of its Spectrum Policy Task Force. This report suggests that the FCC needs to fundamentally revamp its current spectrum policies and eliminate regulatory barriers to increased spectrum access. Public comments are due by January 9, 2003.

Call for Public Comment: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-02-322A1.pdf

Task Force Report and working papers:  http://www.fcc.gov/sptf/

Read the comments of Michael D. Gallagher, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the United States Department of Commerce. He covers topics such as broadband access, Wi-Fi, and UltraWide Band (UWB).

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/speeches/2002/uw_mdg_102802.htm

Recent announcement from Daimler-Chrysler, Saab, and General Motors to incorporate Bluetooth into vehicles may give this technology the kick start it needs. A recent article in IEEE Distributed Systems online cites research that nineteen percent of new vehicles will include embedded Bluetooth nodes by 2007, compared to just one percent in 2003. http://dsonline.computer.org/0210/d/brief2.htm

The International Symposium on Advanced Radio Technology (ISART 2003) will be held in Boulder, Colorado, USA, from 4 to 7 March 2003. This year's sessions include topics in spectrum, broadband deployment, electromagnetics, wireless networks, software defined radios and homeland security. http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/meetings/art/index.html

Cometa, a joint venture between IBM, Intel and AT&T announced plans to setup 20,000 public wireless access points in cities in the USA.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/59/28454.html

http://www.adtmag.com/article.asp?id=7040

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,107727,tk,cx121202a,00.asp

3G mobile networks are at last nearing completion, but now the critics are really starting to speak up. http://www.infoconomy.com/pages/group69345.adp

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group announced at the Bluetooth Developers' Conference in San Jose, Calif. a new initiative to ensure interoperability among Bluetooth-enabled devices. The new "5-Minute Ready" Plan Issues Industry Challenge and Offers Tools to Drive Bluetooth Wireless Technology Usage and Interoperability Among Devices Across Multiple Industry Sectors. http://www.bluetooth.com/news/news.asp?A=2&PID=336

With continuing concerns over the health issues’ concerning radio emissions from mobile phones and base stations the Mobile Health and the Environment Conference, to be held at the Melia White House Hotel, London, 11-14 March 2003, promises to be a timely and comprehensive consideration of the issues that the mobile telecommunications industry is now facing with respect to RF, health and the environment. Details can be found at the IBC Conferences website (www.ibctelecoms.com/healthenvironment).

FCC and NTIA Meet to Coordinate Spectrum Policy

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael K. Powell and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Nancy J. Victory today met formally to plan and coordinate the efforts of the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to improve U.S. spectrum policy. The meeting included senior spectrum policy teams from both organizations. Its purpose was to institutionalize and elevate the coordination between the two agencies beyond historical levels, given the importance of spectrum management to the country. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2002/
spectrumleadership_12102002.htm

FCC looking at additional frequency bands

On Dec. 11, FCC requested public comment on the possibility of permitting unlicensed transmitters to operate in additional frequency bands in order to allow the development of new and innovative types of unlicensed devices.  http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-229400A1.pdf

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has begun testing a system that converts paper patent applications to electronic format. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1209/web-pto-12-09-02.asp

GENERAL TECHNOLOGY

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) has created a web based portal for all the information about their standards, as well as links to other standards organizations. http://www.standardsamericas.net

The European Union unveiled its sixth research framework program for research and technology development during the recent European Research 2002 Conference (Nov. 11-13) in Brussels.  The four year plan (2003-2006) calls for $17 billion in research investments, an increase of 17% over the previous plan.

Sixth Framework Program: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/index_en.html

Commerce Department's Global Tech Update: http://www.ta.doc.gov/reports/GlobalTech/0111-Update1.pdf

i3W @ tic News

In additional to offering more general educational programmes, the tic is committed to working with commercial organisations to develop advanced training courses and workshops. In collaboration with Zebra Technologies Europe Ltd, the tic has developed three specialist courses aimed at Pre-sales and Technical Support personnel who will be involved in the selling and supporting of Zebra hardware.

This 1-day course is for users of BAR-ONE 6.0 who need further training in the design and printing of labels and the advanced features of BAR-ONE® 6.0.

This intensive 2-day "hands-on" course is designed for users who have no or little previous experience of programming using Visual Basic 6.0. At the end of the course, attendees will have developed their practical programming skills using VB 6.0 and will have learned how to integrate and use BAR-ONE® 6.0 as an Active-X component in their VB 6.0 applications. The course also includes communications between devices using both RS-232 and TCP/IP.

The rise of handheld and palm top computing is driving a revolution in mobile applications. Particularly when combined with Bluetooth™ and IEEE-802.11b (WiFi). This intensive 2-day hands-on course will focus on the use of Microsoft eMbedded Visual Basic (eVB) 3.0 for developing applications that run under PocketPC-2002 / WinCE3.0. Attendees will develop applications that run on a handheld platform and communicate with Zebra wireless printers using both IEEE-802.11b with TCP/IP and Bluetooth.

For further information on the above courses please contact directly Zebra Technologies Europe: Tel: +44 (0)1494 472872, Fax: +44 (0)1494 450103, Email: eurtraining@zebra.com

The tic is now developing further specialist workshops and welcomes enquires from Companies and organisations seeking specialist training support. For further information on potential course developments please contact Keith Osman (keith.osman@tic.ac.uk)

Under the leadership of Tony Furness and Paul Chartier, the Centre for Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems, tic, are developing the foundation theory for item-attendant data carriers, with alignment and data carrier extensions to the theory for structure and composability of real-time embedded systems. The latter has relevance to the development of the applications methodology for automated control systems and item-assisted robotics. The resulting documents will be made available, in the first instance, to members of the i3W Research Forum and Academic Network. http://www.i3worldnews.org/showarticle.php?id=030103

Fractals, a family of geometric patterns that repeat their intrinsic pattern over a range of reducing sizes, have been pioneered by Professor Nathan Cohen (Boston University) as the basis for new antenna structures, and shown to offer a new addition to the design base for RFID antennas structures. The Centre for Automatic Identification and Intelligent Systems, tic, has launched a study into the structure and characteristics of fractal antennas and how they compare with other, non-fractal, structures. The study is with particular reference to broadband, frequency agile RFID system requirements. The results of this study will in the first instance be made available to members of the i3W Research Forum and Academic Network.
http://www.i3worldnews.org/showarticle.php?id=030103

i3World ISSUES AND FEATURES

As it becomes more and more common for business and financial transactions to be carried out over the Internet or other electronic networks, the security of those transactions and sensitive information is becoming a major concern. It is essential for companies to be able to guarantee the security of their customer’s and supplier’s information, and that their identity can be electronically verified.

Traditional encryption methods require both parties involved in a transaction to hold the encryption key. This enables them to encrypt and decrypt the transmitted information. However, this method of encryption (known as Symmetric key Encryption) requires some method of transmitting the key from one party to the other. Since encryption is necessary for transactions, there is presumably no secure channel through which to pass the key (Press. 2000). Hence the security of Symmetric Key Encryption is questionable.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) overcomes the problems encountered with Symmetric Key Encryption Methods. It provides a structure and process for individuals and businesses to utilize, supplying a way of proving identity and securely encrypting documents.
http://www.i3worldnews.org/showarticle.php?id=010103

‘Pinging’ the Internet has become a common way for engineers to troubleshoot Internet connections. It works by sending a packet of data to an IP (Internet protocol) address and waiting for a reply to discover whether the address is online and accessible. The latency (time taken for information to be sent and received) and jitter (variations in latency) received in the reply reveal the quality and reliability of the connection.

A new variation of this method has been developed at the Centre for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics at Stanford University, California. It is called soundWIRE (sound Waves on the Internet from Real-time Echoes) and uses a ‘plucked string’ algorithm to send pulses through the Internet which provide more accurate information than the conventional ‘pinging’ would give. http://www.i3worldnews.org/showarticle.php?id=020103

i3World PRODUCT & EVENTS

More information and full registration details are available now at : www.i3World.org

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
(http://www.i3worldnews.org/showarticle.php?id=041102) or anthony.furness@virgin.net

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.
http://www.i3worldnews.org/showarticle.php?id=091102

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:

Looking for a New Way to Search?

First there was Google, now there is the new Google viewer. Try it out.
http://labs.google.com/gviewer.html

Is Hell Endothermic or Exothermic?

I loved this paper.
http://www.pinetree.net/humor/thermodynamics.html

Looking Far Away or Very Close

Interact with a simulation showing objects 10 million light years away down to the surface of a proton. http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10

Plate Tectonics

Take a look at the new 3D topographic and bathymetric models that can be visualized as stunning 3D globes. Also see 3D Animations of the Latest Cretaceous, Cretaceous, Early Permian. and the Middle Devonian.
http://www.scotese.com

Can you pass 8th grade math?

http://encarta.msn.com/quiz/quiz.asp?quizid=95

Liberty fireworks

http://doody36.home.attbi.com/liberty.htm

Graffiti from the Virtual School for the Gifted

http://www.vsg.edu.au/grafndx.htm

GUEST EDITORIAL

Have you stopped to think what links together all the material in the i3World Express? It is the integrated item intelligent World (i3W) - a concept developed by the Technology Innovation Centre (tic). The i3W concept brings together:

• automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies
• communication technologies
• associated identification and data management principles

into a coherently structured discipline that embraces the dynamics of change and new technology. It also pays responsible and effective attention to legacy, to standards and to migration issues that can significantly influence the take-up of technologies.

Although there are many practical examples, tic believes that little has been done to develop the conceptual basis for this. Concept implies an idea, even an abstract idea. But concepts are also formed out of observations and experience.

To develop the concept and practical foundation, tic has established the i3W Research Forum whose members will benefit from supporting deliverables and initial research months before summaries are released publicly. The i3W Research Forum members will also influence the direction of studies. Research will be undertaken by the tic research staff or by other members of the i3W Academic Network. Annual subscriptions have been set (for i3World members) at a sensible level of £2500 (or $4000, or 4000 Euro) - a small investment to protect the legacy of the benefits already gained from data capture technologies and influence progress towards a benefit enriched integrated item intelligent World.

For more details of the i3W Research Forum, the work programme, the benefits of membership, and how to join
http://www.i3worldnews.org
/showarticle.php?id=030103.

BITS AND BYTES

AIM USA TO BE RE-ESTABLISHED

A new AIM USA Affiliate Organisation is to be established four years after the former AIM USA merged with AIM Europe and AIM International to form the present AIM Inc.  In a message to members the Global Board of Directors have announced that an overall strategy with specific objectives will be presented at the AIM Annual Meeting to be held in Florida USA 4-6th February 2003. It is their intention to retain a global umbrella to serve the needs of multi-national members, which will include advocacy, educational efforts and global standards development.    This umbrella will also serve as a focal point for communicating with affiliates around the world.   The message goes on to say :

"The AIM Affiliates will continue their critical role in addressing the national and regional needs of our smaller and mid sized member companies.  Once again, based on the input of members, it is apparent that an important region of the world has not been served by an affiliate organisation, namely North America.  As a result a US affiliate organisation will be created with either a direct staff or a Board of Directors (with contracted professionals based on need)".

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.

Texas Instruments RFID Systems Voted Top 10 Supply Chain Company by Frontline Solutions Magazine

DALLAS, TX (November 21, 2002) – Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (TI-RFid™) Systems today announced it was selected as one of the Top Ten vendors of supply chain technology by Frontline Solutions magazine. TI-RFid Systems also received a Head of the Class honor for its RFID technology in Frontline’s ranking of the top 100 supply chain companies.
http://www.ti.com/tiris/docs
/news/news_releases/2002/
rel11-21-02.shtml

TAGSYS Collaborates with Philips to Provide the Retail World with Low-Cost RFID

TAGSYS, a leading expert in 13.56MHz radio frequency identification (RFID) systems design, today announced that it has joined forces with Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) to develop the first low-cost 13.56MHz ePC™ smart label system. The new system which uses Philips’ smart label ICs and TAGSYS’ readers and software has already been successfully demonstrated. It is fully compliant with the 13.56MHz electronic product code (ePC™) label specification developed by the Massachusetts Institute for Technology’s (MIT) Auto-ID Center in collaboration with end-users and technical sponsors. http://www.tagsys.net/
internet/mnu_news/
news.php?sid=26TX7
alsEa4tFGuUQHsH5t
wLs7FfZi9Q&id=56

SAMSys Technologies Signs VAR Agreement with RFID Total Solutions Provider, VerdaSee Solutions

TORONTO, ON – December 2, 2002 – SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY:TSX-VEN) ("SAMSys"), a world leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions, today announced it has signed a value-added reseller (VAR) agreement with RFID total solutions provider VerdaSee Solutions Inc. ("VerdaSee"). Under this agreement, VerdaSee will incorporate SAMSys’ readers into their logistics application solutions for the supply chain as well as within their SmartShelf product lines. http://198.143.226.157/
default.php?alpha=com
pany&beta=pr&gamma
=&action=read&release
=1038841975

SAMSys Technologies and Ahearn & Soper Sign VAR Agreement

TORONTO, Dec. 18 ("SAMSys"), a world leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID)hardware solutions, today announced it has signed a value-added reseller (VAR) agreement with specialized integrator and reseller Ahearn & Soper Inc. ("Ahearn & Soper"). Under this agreement, Ahearn & Soper will incorporate SAMSys' RFID readers into their data collection solutions in the warehouse management, manufacturing execution, logistics, and healthcare sectors. Ahearn & Soper has been a leading developer of next generation technology since 1881 and has taken an active role in the development of bar code data collection technologies since the 1970's.
http://198.143.226.157/
default.php?alpha=com
pany&beta=pr&gamma
=&action=read&release
=1040222227

SAMSys Technologies Granted Patent for Method and System for Tracking Clustered Items

TORONTO, Dec. 20 ("SAMSys"), a world leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions, today announced that the U.S. Patent Office has granted the company patent number 6,496,806 entitled "Method and System for Tracking Clustered Items." This patent, filed in 1999 is one of a series in patent applications for SAMSys, all of which relate to the company's RFID innovations.

This "Method and System for Tracking Clustered Items" patent provides a system for tracking individual items within a large shipment of objects in random orientation. SAMSys has created this unique approach to resolve practical problems relating to application implementation of high-volume product tracking and logistics management, particularly within the warehousing and distribution environments. The award of this patent demonstrates ingenuity and creativity by providing an RFID solution that effectively solves a number of widespread problems in the current Supply Chain model.
http://198.143.226.157/
default.php?alpha=com
pany&beta=pr&gamma
=&action=read&release
=1040396491

SAMSys Technologies Signs VAR Agreement with UK-based BEC Systems Integration

TORONTO, Dec. 23 ("SAMSys"), a world leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions, today announced it has signed a value-added reseller (VAR) agreement with data capture specialists BEC Systems Integration ("BEC"). Under this agreement, BEC will incorporate SAMSys' RFID readers into their robust data capture solutions that span several sectors including food manufacturing, supply chain / distribution and logistics, manufacturing and consumer goods.
http://198.143.226.157/
default.php?alpha=com
pany&beta=pr&gamma
=&action=read&release
=1040653717

IMI Announces US Ink Jet Developers Conference 2003

IMI, the leading conference and seminar group serving the digital printing industry, announces the second US Ink Jet Printing Developers Conference 2003, which will take place from February 5-7, 2003 at the Chaparral Suites Hotel, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.

This conference is a new concept, designed to enable current and potential ink jet printing systems developers, integrators and users to meet key industry players in a relaxed networking environment. 

Over 21/2 days attendees will be able to meet printhead manufacturers, ink jet ink manufacturers, chemical and material suppliers, technology integrators and instrumentation specialists who will all be exhibiting and presenting at the event.
http://imi.maine.com/
pdf/devcon120302.pdf

New Consortium Launched to Promote Smart Active Label Systems

LONDON - November 25, 2002 – A group of technology suppliers, standards bodies and associations, and potential users from a wide variety of industries today announced the formation of the Smart Active Label (SAL) Consortium to promote smart active label solutions and create standards to benefit supply chain management, asset tracking and the daily lives of consumers in a wide range of industries. http://www.sal-c.org/
4_news/1_main.htm

Matrics Releases EPC-Compliant RFID Tags

Matrics Tags Comply with Type 0 UHF RFID Specification Developed by Auto-ID Center

Columbia, Maryland - December 9, 2002 - Matrics, a pioneer in the advanced development and standardization of low-cost, high-performance UHF Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) smart label technology, today announced that shipments of their new EPC-compliant RFID tags will commence in January of next year.
http://www.matrics.com
/pdf/press/EPC_Chip_P
R.pdf

Matrics Creates New Ways To Secure Lives And Assets For "Safe Commerce" Using Advanced RFID Technology

Responds to Homeland Security Initiative with Advanced RFID Technology to Provide Unique Real-Time Tracking of People, Vehicles, and High Value Assets

Columbia, Maryland - December 16, 2002 - Matrics, a pioneer in the advanced development and standardization of low-cost, high-performance third generation UHF Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) smart tag technology, is aggressively pursuing applications across the security spectrum to provide real-time visibility of people and things. 
http://www.matrics.com/
pdf/press/Security_Appli
cations_PR.pdf

Blackstone Technology Corporation Announces RFID Smart Label Manufacturing Breakthrough

Boston, Mass. – December 10, 2002 – Blackstone Technology Corporation has announced a revolutionary process for high-speed, reel-to-reel smart label manufacturing that will solve the RFID industry’s critical capacity limitation.  The breakthrough process, called SpeedBond™, is more than 10 times faster than current methods of attaching RFID chips to antennas.  More importantly, it is the first process to allow smart labels to be manufactured in one step, going from silicon chip to unprinted label in the same manufacturing line. 
http://www.blackstone
-rfid.com/news.htm

Wherenet and Elogex Team to Deliver Integrated Yard and transportation Management System to Provide True Door-to-Door Shipment Visability

Leading Retail Distributor ES3 Optimizes Operations Using First Integrated System

SANTA CLARA, Calif. and CHARLOTTE, N.C.---Dec. 17, 2002---WhereNet Corp., the worldwide leader of wireless location and communications solutions for managing mobile resources, and Elogex, Inc., a leading innovator of network-based logistics solutions, today announced a partnership to offer the first integrated supply chain solution to bridge the gap between traditional transportation systems and yard management applications. By integrating the WhereNet WhereSoft Yard™ yard management system with the Elogex OneNetwork™ transportation management system, customers throughout the consumer products supply chain will be able to locate, track and manage hundreds of assets in their distribution centers and across a network of manufacturers, carriers and retailers in real time --- all through one web-based point of access.
http://www.wherenet
.com/PressReleases
/PRMaster.cfm?Year
=2002&ID=66

Par Logistics and Savi technology Team up to Improve Cargo Container Security for U.S. Government Agencies

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands - Dec. 12, 2002 - PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE: PTC) and Savi Technology today announced they have launched a joint project with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to assess real-time communications between Savi's electronic bolt seal hardware (E-Seals) and software system and PAR's wireless systems for tracking the security status of intermodal cargo containers transported between the United States and Europe. The announcement was made here during the Intermodal Transport and Logistics 2002 Conference and Exposition.
http://www.savi.com
/news_events/2002r
eleases/dec12-02.ht
ml

Scanology and Magellan Sign MOU

16^TH December 2002 Boxmeer Netherlands, Sydney Australia: Scanology BV, headquartered in Boxmeer, Netherlands, and Magellan Technology Pty Ltd, headquartered in Sydney, Australia, announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding creating a strategic partnership between Scanology and Magellan. Scanology will provide marketing and technical support in EMEA. The MoU marks another major milestone in the rollout of Magellan’s unique RFID system.

Scanology, part of the Axion Boxmeer Group, is a leading Auto ID VAR and Solutions Enabler in the Benelux area. Scanology has a global reputation for the delivery of barcode quality assurance systems, and the partnership with Magellan marks Scanology’s decisive entry into the RFID solutions market. http://www.scanology
.nl/magellan/mou.htm

The Fine Print

Links on web sites frequently change. Any link to articles outside of the Hightechaid.com and i3world.org web sites are not within our control. 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. Back issues of the newsletter are available at
http://www.hightechaid
.com/newsletter/aidcou
rier_archive.htm.

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 subscription will cover you to the end of 2003 and include monthly electronic newsletters and quarterly 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. 2003