i3World Express incorporating HighTechAIDCourier

May 2003

www.i3world.org 

www.hightechaid.com

From the editor's desk!

Welcome to the latest issue of the i3World Express.

We are sorry this issue is late but here is a bumper double bonus issue. 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 of the free newsletter at
www.hightechaid.com.   

In the editorial opposite, I have touched on one of the issues that is facing RFID at the moment. Two other issues have risen during the past few months and we will try to address these in the coming issues - Privacy and Intellectual Property. Both of these issues could impact the widespread adoption of the technology and we must work to ensure that this does not happen. I invite you to share your thoughts on these two areas and we will cover more in the next issue.

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. If you are particularly interested in RFID, you can join the new discussion group that has been setup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rfid/

This issue covers a lot of areas and we hope that you will find the time to comment on any that hit home.

From the Professor!

Healthcare – a huge opportunity still in waiting?

Healthcare is possibly the most information intensive of service disciplines, involving significant generation and exchanges of information at many levels, including medical services, procurement and overall healthcare delivery. It is not therefore unreasonable to consider information issues from an overall perspective, linking where appropriate needs that impact upon different sectors of provision. Because of the significant human interfaces within healthcare for collecting and transferring information there is also a very significant need to consider the technologies that can assist and improve the information gathering and transfer functions.

Healthcare is also an area that requires appropriate identification of patients and service support personnel, specimens and a wide range of other items used in the delivery of healthcare. Inappropriate or incorrect identification can be an inconvenience at least and have fatal consequences at worst. There are therefore safety-critical procedures, such as the issue of blood for transfusion and the issue of particular medications that demand robust identification of both patient and item; and while it is true to say that some effective measures are now in place to satisfy such needs the prospect can be seen for extending and improving identification techniques and strategies that are used.

Despite being an information-rich environment, with growing and significant attention to ICT, the healthcare sector has yet to exploit, in any rationalized or concerted manner, the technologies and principles that we have designated item-attendant ICT. Islands of development can be seen in which particular automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies have been used to effect but without, as yet, any apparent transfer across healthcare disciplines or even between comparable disciplines in different healthcare delivery regions. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are being used to collect patient information through what are effectively patient diaries. Initiatives such as the Health Collaboration Project (HCP) in Europe are helping to establish foundations for applying AIDC data carriers¹ with the use of EAN International - Uniform Code Council (EAN.UCC) bar code identification and data carrier standards being a particular example. However, the efforts are by and large focused upon singular developments without consideration of complementary and potentially synergistic solutions to information and item management needs.

The scope for a concerted, integrated approach to exploiting item-attendant ICT is considerable. Item management, for example, can be distinguished in a wide variety of healthcare support disciplines, including:

• Materials and equipment procurement

• Asset management and maintenance

• Pathology and investigative laboratory processes and procedures

• Pharmacology provisions and services support

• Medical and surgical process and procedures support

• Patient and staff identification and access security support

Many of these areas are already seeing the benefits of item-attendant ICT but now require the benefits of extension and harmonisation of such provisions strategically aligned for optimum information and item management purposes. The need can be seen for a generic framework in which to plan an integrated approach to exploiting the radical benefits of item-attendant ICT and linking where appropriate into the broader aspects of e-commerce and the reduction of budget expenditure on procurement.

References
¹Furness, A (1999) Automatic Identification and data capture in healthcare: Hospital Healthcare Europe 1999/2000, FM-13.
Merguerian, G (1999) Barcoding - electronic commerce standards and logistic processes: Hospital Healthcare Europe 1999/2000, FM-13-14.

Technology News Briefs

Biometrics

US Government checks out Biometrics

The Pentagon enters the final phase of tests on an iris-scanning system which allows entry to an exercise room without using ID cards. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/21145-1.html

Biometrics at Borders

The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) urges the use of Biometrics at border crossings. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0210/web-nist-
02-11-03.asp 
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/n03-01.htm 
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0224/web-bio-
02-25-03.asp

Are Biometric Identifiers the solution?

Although Biometrics is being recognized as the way forward for identification, it appears that acceptance is still slow and expensive. http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030206S0013

Biometric ID for Seafarers

The Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry is using biometric ID cards for up to 500,000 seafarers to help prevent identity fraud. http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/
story/0,10801,78707,00.html

Philippines to use Biometrics

In an effort to prevent/reduce in the upcoming elections, the government in the Philippines have approved the use of biometric enabled ATM machines for the elections. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2003/feb/23/
top_stories/20030223top11.html 
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:OUbXQhKbrfsC:
www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/technology/
2000/0428/politics.html+philippines+biometric+OR+
biometrics&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

As background to this decision, the following articles provide some clue as to the use of AIDC technologies in the Philippines: http://www.dss.state.ct.us/digital/manila.htm
http://www.primarypdc.com/press/98march/031798a.html
http://www.symbol.com/products/barcode_scanners/2d_
solutions_govid_cs_philippi.html
http://www.asean-ssa.org/sssidsyssssphils.pdf
http://itmatters.com.ph/news/news_10222002a.html
http://www.egov.vic.gov.au/International/AsiathePacific/
Philippines/philippines.htm
http://www.biomet.org/bi/conferences_BI300503.htm
http://www.kablenet.com/kd.nsf/Frontpage/17FD11E86
16BAA2880256BC1004BFA4A?OpenDocument
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/pdfs/tb99-003.pdf 

Kroger Stores use Biometrics

Kroger is using biometrics to bring Enhanced Transaction Processing. http://www.biometricaccess.com/company/n_041102.htm

Problems with Biometrics

Every system that identifies people has its problems. It is important to use the one that matches your needs best. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/24/technology/24HAN
D.html?ei=5062&en=c6684c8426e062f1&ex=10466676
00&partner=GOOGLE&pagewanted=print&position=top

Rand Institute Report

The Rand Institute have published a report "Biometrics: A Look at Facial Recognition" (Feb. 2003) http://www.rand.org/publications/DB/DB396/DB396.pdf

Face Recognition at Sydney Airport – Problems?

A situation involving two delegates from a group viewing the trial who switched passports and were falsely accepted. http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/DV/Smart
Gate.html http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/DV/
BioAirports.html http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,6069961%
5e16123%5e%5enbv%5e,00.html http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,
6048331%255E15306,00.html 

Clarksburg VA gets a Biometrics Facility

The demonstration center, open by appointment only to federal customers, will focus on the benefits of biometrics, highlight the Biometrics Enterprise Solution and explain how biometrics is used in the areas of information assurance, physical access and tactical applications. http://www.cpubco.com/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=1347
8cbgCurrentLocalNews?cbgCurrentLocalNews

Biometrics Secure Borders

The International Biometric Group has presented its final report on using biometric technologies to secure the nation's borders to the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy. http://www.ibgweb.com/press_releases/pr_2003_ostp.html

Biometric ATMs?

The continued use of a card and a PIN maybe because of a reluctance on the part of banks to introduce a biometric ATM. http://www.self-service-touchpoints.com/content.asp?
contentid=100

The Ultimate Biometric?

A report by the BBC says that the complete genetic makeup of individuals could soon be scanned and recorded on a smart card. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2816003.stm

US DoD biometric pilot

The DoD is preparing for a smart card pilot using embedded biometrics. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/21180-1.html

Ready for the Big Time?

As biometrics get more attention after the September 11, 2001 events, questions about their suitability for real time use are starting to appear. http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,
6068917%255E15321,00.htm

Fast ID System

FAST ID technology, a major upgrade to the Department of Justice’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) is being used in Wisconsin. http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/nr021303_CIB.asp http://www.superior-wi.com/placed/index.php?
sect_rank=1&story_id=134866&refer_url= http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/news/archive/
local_8957952.shtml

Santori's Supermarket offers Biometrics

The US grocery store is allowing its customers to use a biometric driven payment system. http://www.piranet.com/pira/piranet.asp?page=
piraitem.htm&newsitemid=4333

U.S. Government chooses Fingerprint System

The Department of Defence (DOD) announced that it will upgrade its fingerprint systems. http://www.piranet.com/pira/piranet.asp?page=piraitem.h
tm&newsitemid=4332

INCITS announces four biometric task groups

The International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) has announced four task groups on Biometrics. http://www1.marketwire.com/iwire/release_html_b1?
release_id=52548

Biometrics Standards

Having previously mentioned some of the work on Biometrics Standards, here are some links to this work. OASIS XML Common Biometric Format (XCBF) http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/members/200301/
msg00008.html and http://xml.coverpages.org/ni2003-02-
06-a.html

Use of Biometrics for a travel card

Good idea or bad? Possible or impossible? The article starts to put things in perspective. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/avanti/biometric%20
standards.pdf

How big is Biometrics?

The International Biometric Group estimates that the size of the global biometric marketplace in 2002 was $600.7 million with criminal identification the largest horizontal segment of the biometric industry, accounting for 34.5% ($207.5 million) of that revenue. www.biometricgroup.com

Biometrics at Schipol

Using an iris scanner, the authorities at Amsterdam's Schipol airport are trying to reduce the lines. http://www.dallasnews.com/travel/europe/stories/033003
dntraeyescan.b73f2.html

School uses Biometrics

In the cafeteria at Tipton Elementary School you don't need cash, you need your finger. http://www.crn.com/sections/news/top_news.asp?ArticleID=
40811

Investment company looks to Biometrics

Fidelity Investments is looking to use Biometrics to help with employee and client ID. http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0408fidellooks.html

New Biometric device

Fujitsu Labs have developed a contactless biometric system that looks at blood patterns in the palm of the hand. http://neasia.nikkeibp.com/wcs/leaf?CID=onair/asabt/news/
240245

Police in Scotland use facial biometrics

The Grampian police are trying to identify suspects more quickly using facial recognition biometric systems. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/30316.html

Trucks to get biometric ID

The TSA is reviewing the use of a biometric ID card system to lock trucks and verify the driver ID. http://www.landlinemag.com/Archives/2003/MarApr03/
News/new_regulator.html

UK ID card

The Home Secretary in the UK is proposing that everyone should pay around £25 for a compulsory ID card using iris recognition technology. http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;
$sessionid$C1ZLQXCS0GL0TQFIQMGCFF4A
VCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2002/02/06/nblun06.xml

http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2F
news%2F2003%2F04%2F20%2Fnid20.xml

Intel gives away biometric software

Under an open source license, Intel is making available software for lip-reading speech recognition. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/30433.html

Microsoft jumps in to biometrics

Integrating biometrics support into Windows, a deal was announced between AuthenTec, a maker of fingerprint-recognition sensors, and Microsoft. http://news.com.com/2100-1009-998666.html?tag=fd_top

Radio Frequency Identification

RFID Tags in the War

RFID will offer the military a new advantage as it prepares for a new war in the Gulf. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0217/web-rfid-
02-21-03.asp

TI Speedpass acceptance is growing

Speedpass is now accepted at Selected Stop & Shops in the Framingham and Natick, Massachusetts area: http://www.speedpass.com/stopandshop/

RFID – The first link to "The Borg"?

One scientists quest to find out how to interface into the human system may be the clue to the long term solution for physical disabilities. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.02/
warwick.html

Symbol Technologies offers RTLS

Offering a new product that will add Real-Time Location tags Symbol helps track inventory. http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1595651

The Auto-ID Center tests move on

Monitoring Gillette Mach3 razors and cases of Procter & Gamble's Pantene shampoo are just two of the on going tests. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/25/technology/25THEF.h
tml?position=top&8hpib=&pagewanted=print&position=top

ThingMagic Announces Agreement with Tyco

Tyco Retail Systems will license the ThingMagic dual band (HF/UHF) reader for Auto-ID lab specifications. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030224/245498_1.html Are Multi Protocol Readers the solution – see editorial above.

Implanting Chips in Humans – a hiccup?

Applied Digital missed a $46 million credit payment to IBM Credit Corp. Is this the end of the line? http://www.worldnetdaily.com/
news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31353

Add a timer to your label

Power Paper introduces a label that includes a timer. http://www.piranet.com/pira/piranet.asp?page=
piraitem.htm&newsitemid=4329

Benetton does an about face?

After the press release from Philips stating that Benetton would use RFID chips in its clothing (http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20030311S0028), an announcement from Benetton, says that it is not so. Is this an indication of the pressure that privacy groups will bring to bear? http://www.out-law.com/php/page.php?
page_id=benettonuturnonh1049810409&area=news

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?
articleID=8900081

http://www.nocards.org/

Information on Prada's use of RFID can be found at www.ti.com/tiris/docs/news/news_releases/2002/
rel4-23-02.shtml

Benetton's new RFID system

A comment on the use of RFID by Benetton. Will our clothes track us as we travel? http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2003Mar/gee
20030314019104.htm

Is RFID the root of all evil?

Some organizations seem to think so. The concept of everything talking to everything certainly seems to have stirred up privacy issues. http://www.forbes.com/personalfinance/retirement/
newswire/2003/04/08/rtr933169.html

RFID in the restaurant

A new loyalty scheme for restaurants will use RFID. http://www.thewisemarketer.com/news/read.asp?lc=
i29056ax590zo

Satellite tracking in (war) action

While RFID is helping the war effort, satellite tags using GPS are also playing a big part. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/middle_east/
web-vistar-04-04-03.asp

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/middle_east/
web-mts-04-04-03.asp

AMR explains RFID issues

At their show in Chicago, AMR found that RFID is indeed the big interest item, but many have misunderstood the technology. http://www.line56.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=4585

Alien Tags not Compatible in Europe

Gillette reveals that the current tests in Europe are not using tags made by Alien as they not compatible with the EU regulations. http://www.line56.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=4554

Digital Angel measure heat

Expanding their line of RFID Tags for animal ID, Digital Angel are now looking to incorporate temperature sensing in the chip. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/56692
84.html

Store of the future?

Intel and SAP have worked with Germany's Metro store to create an RFID driven store. http://news.com.com/2117-1006-998038.html

http://www.line56.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=4612

RFID on Fast Track

It looks like RFID will move ahead despite some recent setbacks. http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?
liArticleID=121327&liFlavourID=1&sp=1

RFID Standards

Standards have taken a big step in the past few months. The work being done by SC31 to create technology standards have passed another milestone. ISO/IEC 18000 which is the main technology standard for RFID tags, has moved on another stage. Parts 3 and 4 are now in FDIS ballot, parts 6 and 7 are in FCD ballot and parts 1 and 2 are expected to go to FCD ballot any day. Part 5 (5.8GHz) has been formally withdrawn as a standard.

Other standards groups are also moving forward. SC31's group working on Data Structures for RFID have issued CD ballots for 15961 and 15962. Unique identification of RFID tags has issued as an FCD ballot.

There are New Project proposals for a standard to create an Application Programmers Interface for RFID and one to show how to create an Elementary Tag (similar to the MIT Auto-ID lab) from the current ISO 18000 standards.

Details of the ISO process and the current state of the SC31 standards can be found at http://www.hightechaid.com/standards/how_does_iso_
work.htm and http://www.hightechaid.com/standards/RFID_Standards_
SC31.htm

If you want more information on ISO standardization, then email steve@hightechaid.com

Identification & Security

Nigeria Launches National ID card

Nigeria launched a National ID card system this month. Many opinions of the system have been published and here are a few: http://allafrica.com/stories/200302190194.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2780235.stm http://allafrica.com/stories/200302170460.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200302180522.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2775695.stm http://allafrica.com/stories/200302170299.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200302050385.html http://www.thisdayonline.com/news/20030211news13.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200302160100.html

Digital ID Alliance

The GSA and a DoD agency have joined forces to address digital identity issues. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0303/web-liberty-03-
05-03.asp

U.S. National ID?

Is a system for national ID checks in the U.S.A. just round the corner? http://msn.com.com/2100-1107-984835.html

Think your Debit Card PIN is Safe?

Think again. A study by computer scientists in Cambidge UK says that a corrupt bank employee can get your PIN after 15 attempts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2798029.stm

Will Scotland have ID cards?

After the disinterest in the UK, maybe Scotland will move first. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/29928.html

Identity Theft

A major problem, what can be done? http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/30000.html

Belgian's to get ID card

Every resident in Belgium over the age of 12 years will get a Java enable ID card. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/33DADB67
48778E080256D08001082D1?OpenDocument

Manchester United uses  security labels

The UK based football club Manchester United has revealed that Paxar security labels will be used on its next season’s shirt to be released in summer 2003. http://www.piranet.com/pira/piranet.asp?
page=piraitem.htm&newsitemid=4327

US Visa plan too expensive

The US plans to introduce a visa tracking system has been criticized as being too expensive and too time consuming to set up http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.
com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1048313877290

UK thinks about new passports

The UK Passport Service has revealed that the cost of passports will rise and that they could include new features by 2005. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/Sci_Tech/story_48144.asp

Smart Card

Smart Cards and Biometrics

Looking for some information on Smart Cards and their use with Biometrics? These links may help. http://www.smartcardbasics.com/images/DC-SCBv10.pdf http://www.smartcardbasics.com/security.html

Can Smart Cards protect Identity

The Smart Card Alliance's recent conference showcased how Security and Identity can be achieved with Smart Cards. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=
SVBIZINK3.story&STORY=/www/story/02-24-2003/0001
896148&EDATE=MON+Feb+24+2003,+07:55+AM

Payment Identification – a revolution in the making?

Loyalty cards get a boost and Forrester Research predicts that contactless smart cards will be the way of the future. http://www.thewisemarketer.com/news/read.asp?lc=
a22259cx567zm

TSA Smart Card Pilots

The Transportation Security Administration is preparing to launch pilots for its Transportation Worker Identification Credential system. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0310/web-twic-
03-12-03.asp

TSA releases RFP

As the TSA enters a four month technical evaluation of its smart card program, it is also getting ready to launch two regional pilot programs. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0324/web-twic-
03-28-03.asp

TSA awards contract

The Transportation Security Administration awarded a $3.8 million contract April 23 to Maximus Inc. to help develop a universal smart card for transportation workers. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0421/web-tsa-
04-24-03.asp

Gemplus provides Canada with epost system

Gemplus servers are helping to authenticate the Canadian system for authentification of digital signatures. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/2B81EB871
CFC654E80256D0A0010833F?OpenDocument

UK Chip and PIN program

In an effort to reduce fraud the UK is about to start a public trial followed by a nationwide roll out. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/30214.html

Bar Code

Teeny tiny bar codes

Researchers have found a way to make bar codes small enough to tag DNA molecules. http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/097/business/
Local_firms_help_make_sure_that_simulated_war_
is_hell+.shtml

UWB

Looking for more information on Ultra Wideband? Try this. http://www.80211-planet.com/tutorials/article.php/1598581

FCC Confirms UWB

The Federal Communications Commission has confirmed that Ultra Wide Band is here to stay. The regulations were reaffirmed on Feb. 14, 2003 with minor changes. http://www.ultrawidebandplanet.com/technology/article/0,,
10850_1585291,00.html

Will UWB become the wireless alternative?

In an effort to speed up wireless communications, several vendors are looking to UWB. http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0312vendopush.html

Intel speeds up UWB

Demonstrating 220Mbps, Intel is leading the push towards faster wireless communications. http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0411inteltakes.html

Homeland Security

National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace

President Bush released the final version of this document asking industry to take a role in defending information systems. http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-984697.html

Homeland Security Department business strategy

The next seven months will see the development of a set of plans to set a course for modernization. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0217/
web-cooper-02-19-03.asp

Sharing Information

The State Department announces that it will share information on visas with the FBI. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0217/web-visa-
02-18-03.asp

Homeland Security's new division

The Homeland Security Department's Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Division is starting to pull itself together. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0210/web-dhs-
02-14-03.asp

New Information Sharing Center

President Bush outlined plans for The Terrorist Threat Integration Center which would include the Defense and Homeland Security departments, the FBI and the CIA. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0224/news-terror-
02-24-03.asp 

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0210/web-threat-02-
14-03.asp

Deadline Extended

The deadline for complying with the entry/exit registration requirements of the USA have been extended http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0217/web-justice-02-
18-03.asp

Airlines Give U.S. Government your Data

If you fly into the U.S. then the airline will be required to give the U.S. Government all the data about you that it has collected as part of the program to identify suspected terrorists. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/29408.html

Total Information Awareness Program

This controversial program which is targeted at collecting and analyzing information for the purposes of identifying potential terrorist and related security threats will now be monitored by internal and external oversight boards. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2003/b02072003_bt0
60-03.html http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2003/t02072003_t0
207atl.html

Security Checks in Atlanta USA

Information on the steps being taken at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport show how the general public is taking to the increased security, including vehicle checks. http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/0203/
25hartsfield.html
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/0203/25
tsa.html

TSA will Screen Passengers

The TSA is getting ready to start testing a computer system that will perform background checks on airline travelers. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0224/web-tsa-
02-26-03.asp

Airline Passenger Risk Assessment

The TSA has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems to develop a system to analyze airline passengers. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0224/web-tsa-
02-28-03.asp

INS Inspectors not trained

A Justice Department report has found that Immigration and Naturalization Service Inspectors are not getting the correct training nor do they have access to adequate equipment. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0310/web-dojig-
03-11-03.asp

TSA Smart Card Pilots

The Transportation Security Administration is preparing to launch pilots for its Transportation Worker Identification Credential system. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0310/web-twic-
03-12-03.asp

People and Cargo tracked at U.S. Borders

The advancement of the systems used to track people and cargo at U.S. Borders is highlighted by Homeland Security undersecretary. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0310/web-border-
03-12-03.asp

TSA's new scheme at risk

The Transportation Security Administration's proposed system to screen airline passengers still needs to be funded and must wait until the business case is shown to meet investment planning requirements. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0324/web-capps-03-
25-03.asp

TSA looks for identification system

TSA's Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) System will provide employees at airports, ports, railways and other locations with secure access to buildings and systems http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0324/web-twic-
03-28-03.asp

Wireless Computing

The industry consortium that tests for interoperability between 802.11 products has established its time table for certifying products based on the soon-to-be-finalized 2.4GHz 802.11g specification. http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1598431

New Rules for Wi-Fi in USA?

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating allocating more space to the growing use of Wi-Fi. http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/resource/feb03/

Will Wi-Fi lead the Wireless boom?

A study by Frost & Sullivan suggests that Wi-Fi is growing faster than expected. http://www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=26847

Is 3G here?

The UK has gone live with the first implementation of a 3G phone system. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2808761.stm

802.11b or g?

Research company Gartner warns not to touch 802.11g until certification is done. Where does that leave the early adopters? http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/29651.html

Wi-Fi Hot Spots - 1

Boingo Wireless announced the addition of three new hot spot operator (HSO) partners, bringing its total to 25 and extending its lead in creating a single worldwide Wi-Fi network to serve business travelers. http://www.boingo.com/pr/pr30.html

Hot Spots – 2

A report by Analysys states that the Hot Spot market for wireless LANs will grow from $33.4 million in 2002 to $5.5 billion in 2007. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/29683.html

Hot Spots – 3

Hilton Hotels, Borders Books, MacDonalds, and Marriott Hotels all come on line with wireless networks based on the Intel chipset. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/29701.html

http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/2107911

UK Hot Spots heat up

Intel and Ericsson are putting together a network of Wi-Fi hot spots in pubs in the UK. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/84C3F41
A07B7440380256CE500160CA8?OpenDocument And for information on Canada - http://www.80211-planet.com/columns/article.php/2110321

Intel Launches Centrino

Intel's latest chip offering includes wireless LAN capability http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/50E142696
2976AC780256CE800160D2A?OpenDocument

Wi-Fi growth

A commentary of the growth of W-Fi and the recent announcement by Intel, helps to put things in perspective. http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/2108651

Mobile Identity

What is it and when will it arrive? http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/21104.html

Wireless Any Network Digital Assistant

A new design from TI for wireless connection called WANDA will allow GSM, 802.11 and Bluetooth. http://news.com.com/2100-12-992826.html

WLAN - more available

Europe tries to increase spectrum for WLAN with changes to the regulations. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/29860.html

WLAN use grows and grows

According to a Gartner study there could be more than 100,000 wireless LAN 'hot spots' within the next five years and the number of frequent WLAN users in North America may grow from 4.2 million in 2003 to more than 31 million in 2007. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/29979.html

Looking for a faster WLAN?

The IEEE is looking at proposals to increase the data rates of WLANs to as much as 320Mbps – but it will take to time to create the standard, so don't expect systems until around 2005.         http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/30232.html

WLAN in the air?

A story in the Register suggests that WiFi may soon be OK in planes. Does this mean that other things will change soon? http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/30482.html

Intellectual Property

Symbol Technologies and PSC settle case

Resolving all current disputes, PSC and Symbol Technologies have announced that they have reached agreement on the outstanding suits. http://www.symbol.com/news/pressreleases/other_psc
_settle.html

General Technology

FCC Votes on High Speed Internet Access

The FCC was set to vote on new ground rules for companies that sell high speed Internet access. http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-984733.html

Xerox weigh in with alternative to Silicon

Now Xerox joins the list of companies working on methods to provide low cost alternatives to silicon for integrated circuits. http://news.com.com/2100-1001-975903.html?tag=lh

Ever wondered what your browser is telling the world about you? Take a look at this tool to see what you are broadcasting. http://www.gemal.dk/browserspy/ If you are looking for tools to help the problems of spyware etc see http://news.com.com/2009-1023-985524.html

U.S. Consolidates Technology/Telecom Agencies

The U.S. announced plans to consolidate the Commerce Department's Technology Administration (including the National Institute of Standards and Technology), National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the e-commerce functions of the International Trade Administration into a single department. http://www.ta.doc.gov/GovReleases/DOC_030213.htm

Link Voice and Data to a single address

The U.S. State Department is being urged to join 13 other members of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in supporting ENUM, a new global Internet domain set aside for electronic numbering. This assigns an email address to every telephone number using the e164.arpa domain, which would enable citizens to communicate both voice and text messages through one single identifier, either a telephone number or an e-mail address. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2003/enumpr_02
122003.htm
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/ntiageneral/enum/
enum_02122003.htm
http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/powell/
gross_enum_letter-021303.pdf

Developers of Global Positioning win Award

The prestigious Charles Stark Draper Award was given to Ivan A. Getting and Bradford W. Parkinson for their individual efforts in developing the Global Positioning System. http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/
02192003?OpenDocument

FCC's new Rules anger Congress

Members of Congress were very critical of the FCC's decision not to deregulate local loop provisions. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/C3E839F
D5EBD4D1680256CDA00160B70?OpenDocument

NASA wants Nuclear Power Propulsion for Space

NASA unveiled its plans for a Jupiter mission that would bring into reality a nuclear-powered ion-drive engine. http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/
journal/v421/n6926/full/421881a_fs.html

Intel develops Plastic Memory

But the project to do it on an industrial scale seems to be falling behind schedule. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/EFB2E51C
DFAD279380256CDB00160BA6?OpenDocument

The Internet gets faster

Scientists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center pushed 6.7 Gigabytes of data across 6,800 miles in less than a minute. http://www.slac.stanford.edu/slac/media-info/20030207/

European Regulation starts now

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive recently became law in the European Union (EU). In less than two years, all businesses that sell electric or electronic products in Europe will be responsible for the collection, treatment, recovery, and environmentally sound disposal/recycling of their products sold in the EU. http://www.amrresearch.com/content/view.asp?
pmillid=15753

Need a longer life battery?

NEC and Hitachi are working on fuel cells for notebooks. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/29648.html

Philips announce another Wafer Fab to close

In a move to return to profitability, Philips announced that they will close a second wafer fab in the USA. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/30364893
4D26F29B80256CEC003769B6?OpenDocument

Infineon thinking about change?

Infineon Technologies is thinking about moving its headquarters out of Germany. It also announced job cuts and a savings plan. http://news1.iwon.com/tech/article/id/142439|technology|
04-29-2003::07:28|reuters.html

Small Batteries!

First there were antennas, then printed batteries and now on-chip batteries. http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/rnb_031
803_3.asp

Is tracking good?

An article in the MIT-related publication "Technology Review" (April 2003) is entitled "Surveillance Nation". It shows some real benefits from the tracking of things and how people are relying on the information. http://www.technologyreview.com/view/article.asp?
p=11907

Future Technology

An interesting article in Forbes Magazine talks about some of the new technologies that could help to reduce the amount of criminal activity. http://www.forbes.com/markets/forbes/2003/0414
/056.html

Intelligent transport in Florida

Florida will demonstrate ways of collecting, integrating and using surface transportation data. http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2003/0331/web-fla-04-
03-03.asp

Who's got XML?

You hear the term everywhere, but who is doing the work to make this standard for us. Here are some links that will help you get ahead. OASIS takes on coordination of the industry-specific XML efforts: http://news.com.com/2100-1001-981650.html as well as maintaining a register of industry specific specifications http://www.xml.org/xml/registry.jsp

Other good links are:
http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2003/03/26/financial.html
http://www.disa.org/affiliates.cfm
http://www.acord.org/Standards/StandardsHome.aspx
http://www.starstandard.org/sigs/index.cfm?section=XML
http://www.xmlbits.org
http://www.nafem.org/resources/nafem_xml.cfm

Proxim revenues fall

Proxim has been hit by the fall in US spending with first quarter US revenue half the last quarter. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/F68522B4
7609A6FE80256D01001088BC?OpenDocument

Nokia announces another jobs cut

As the networks market continues to be in a state of flux, Nokia announces another 1,800 jobs to be cut. http://www.cbronline.com/cbr.nsf/latestnews/BD6665
401D824EE580256D0500108909?OpenDocument

Symbol Technologies subject to inquiry

With a former executive pleading guilty to fraud, the investigations continue at Symbol. http://www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/2170531

i3World Issues and Features

Pay-per-use scenarios for digital protection – the "Self-Destruct" files becomes a reality

Rising concerns over piracy of music and video material has in recent years prompted many considerations on how it might be tackled. One such development introduces the concept of ‘self-destruct’ files – not using the somewhat dramatic Mission Impossible approach but one based upon a more subtle concept of carrying the play-back program for reproducing the recordings actually conveyed with the recording data stream and structured to allow a finite number of replays or a defined period of time to have elapsed before auto-erasing the files or effecting a no-read response.

By applying access coding material can also be down-loaded from service websites onto appropriate storage media, such as computer disc, CD, DVD and MPEG media, depending on the source material and unlocked for replay only when the recipient has paid for the service and received the necessary software key.

Such developments offer benefits with respect to protection of source material and ease of access for such material. However, consumer reaction points to the impact it could have upon traditional outlets for music and video products and the concern that the ‘self-destruct’ concept simply supports the notion of rental rather than saleable products. It is a notion and approach that can extend to other areas of digital product provision including software.

Integrated Approach to Pay-as-you-drive Car Insurance

Telematics technology appears set to help resolve policy pricing issues in the car insurance industry. As car insurance costs continue to rise, many drivers would prefer the price of their insurance to reflect their use of the car, rather than being a fixed rate. Norwich Union insurers aim to introduce flexible insurance policies, called ‘pay-as-you-drive’, as a trial scheme, in the UK during 2003. Technology incorporated into the car will be used to assess its use and calculate insurance prices from the data.

Already operating in parts of the United States, the system will incorporate a ‘black box’ into the car. This will contain a computer and two transmitters and will be roughly the size of a video cassette. Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other measurement devices within the car, the computer will be able to log details of each journey such as the time of day, duration of the trip, mileage and the roads used (Frey, 2000). The system will calculate insurance premiums according to the time and mileage and whether the journey included country roads, motorways, city centres or accident black spots (Poulter, 2003). There is also the potential for details of speed to be recorded.

The information gathered would be transmitted to the insurance company using a mobile phone network. This could happen at regular intervals, such as every month, or in real time – as each journey is completed. The premiums could be calculated and charged on a monthly basis, or using an annual estimate which could be topped up or refunded at the end of each year.

Road safety is a benefit that is likely to emerge from pay-as-you-drive insurance policies – people will be encouraged to use their cars less, more efficiently, at safer, less congested times of the day and on safer roads. Also, higher risk drivers who have previously been involved in accidents will have higher premiums, and therefore even more incentive to reduce their time on the road. If the car is involved in an accident, the insurance company could instantly be informed via the mobile network of the location and severity of the crash, and this information then forwarded to the emergency services (Poulter, 2003).

Pollution should also be lessened by the reduction in vehicles on the road, and also the fact that cars will be in better condition through less use and therefore more efficient and less polluting. Road construction could decrease with the reduction in demand, and public transport may become more popular.

The significance of the pay-as-you-drive scenario is not simply that of financial benefit, but of the real-time nature of the information and the potential for the use of this type of system in a variety of situations. GPS and mobile telecommunications make it possible for an insurance company to have access to key data on a journey the moment that journey has been completed. Policy prices can be adapted according to the information received, almost in real-time, and can be informed of accidents or break down through the black box in the vehicle and make an informed, quick response.

References
Frey, J. Progressive’s "pay-as-you-drive" auto insurance poised for wide rollout. Insure.com. July 2000.
Poulter, S. Black Box in the Car. Daily Mail. March 2003.

Nano-drive data storage

With nanotechnology so very much in the news it is interesting to note that it is impacting upon the technologies for data storage. The ‘millipede nanodrive’ memory device is a product of the nanotechnology research. It uses grids of tiny cantilevers to read, write and erase data stored on a polymer medium. The cantilever tips can be activated to poke depressions in the polymer surface (to represent a digital ‘1’). Correspondingly the absence of a depression represents a digital ‘0’. Reading is achieved using a tip-based thermal effect upon resistance. Erasure is achieved by a tip-based heating process to polymer to re-flow and fill the depression. The first of these memory devices are likely to be available within the next three years, mostly likely in the form of postage stamp sized memory inlets for portable electronic devices. It is envisaged that these devices will have gigabyte capacities.

World Wide Use of RFID

Steve Halliday, High Tech Aid

One of the issues that has come to light this month is that of the world wide use of RFID. We learned this month that the Gillette tests that are occurring in the UK are not based on the Alien (UHF) tags, but on a Philips 13.56MHz tag. With the current problems with UHF from a regulatory standpoint in Europe, this makes a lot of sense for this test, but it also highlights some problems.

Obviously we cannot use a single tag world wide at this time. So how do we get around the issue? One of the possible ways is the use of a Multi-Standard Reader (MSR). This is a reader that is capable of reading one or more frequencies and/or one or more air interface protocols.

The obvious advantage here is that one reader can read several systems. The disadvantage is that without a lot of thought and some good design, the use of a MSR has some problems. The problems include, incompatibilities between air interfaces and loss of data due to the switching of frequency/protocol. 

Here are two examples of issues that need to be thought through. First, the technologies used in the reader cannot be similar, such that a tag from one system will answer the reader's message to another system with errors. Second, the reader must switch through all the systems supported. This must be done such that in a dynamic tag population, there is no chance that a tag is missed (the tag left the field before the read could be made).

While there are several companies that are working on solutions for these issues, it is important that the user/integrator does not design a multi-tag system that will cause these kind of issues.

MSR readers are going to become the "standard" in many areas where we will find that there is no one perfect tag. We will have to become aware of the advantages and disadvantages this brings.

If you have questions or comments about this article or the regulatory environment, send an email to steve@hightechaid.com

i3W @ tic News

tic demonstrates i3W at Foodtrace Conference

tic had a significant presence at the Foodtrace conference at London’s Olympia Conference Centre on 11^th and 12^th March. The conference focussed upon the need to trace food through the supply chain from raw materials and ingredients to transportation and retail, with tic providing a large stand dedicated to demonstrating the application of the i3W concept in this particular situation.

As well as a poster trail, a series of demonstrations showing the use of one- and two-dimensional bar coding, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and other technologies was provided to show the different ways that data can be carried and retrieved. Some demonstrations used a simple one-dimensional barcode to access a database of information about a food product – manufacturer, batch code, date of manufacture, ingredients listing and so on, whilst others showed how much of this information could be carried with the item in a two-dimensional barcode or RFID tag, without requiring connection to a database.

The ‘Java and Cookies’ section provided the delegate with a cup of coffee and a biscuit, both of which were labelled with one- and two-dimensional codes. The delegate could then use the different technologies to access information about their food and drink via a database or the information carried in the code and trace them back to the ingredients. It was deemed a simple yet effective illustration of i3W in action in food traceability.

The Talking Bar Codes demonstration made use of a product developed by a consortium of companies, including tic, for a European Commission Framework 5 project. The Talking Bar Codes system consists of a two-dimensional bar code scanner combined in a handset with a speech synthesiser. This allows the user to scan a two-dimensional code, for example those used on the coffee and biscuits, and have the information concerning manufacturer, ingredients, possible allergy triggers and so on, spoken to them by the device. Developed for use by visually-impaired and print-disabled users, it enables quick and easy access to written information. The system also incorporates software to scan an open Microsoft Word document and add two-dimensional codes containing the text.

The Smart Cylinder exhibit displayed another system developed at tic. This makes use of a RFID tag that is incorporated into a gas cylinder. The tag contains current data about the cylinder – when and where it was last inspected, filled, used, tested and so on. There is also a database where information about the history of the cylinder can be accessed. Hence the system uses a combination of item-attendant data (information carried with the item) and remote data held in a database. While developed for one sector of industry the item-attendant data carrier and transfer strategies could be applied to other entities within the food supply chain; for example, gas bottles for carbonated drinks machines and carriers for food.

The Go-codes demonstration showed a relatively new development in coding in action. A Go-code is a very small two-dimensional code, into which is encoded an URL for a webpage. The user scans the code with a special reader connected to their computer and is instantly taken directly to that page, making accessing specific pages and sites quick and easy.

The exit portal from the stand made use of RFID technology. In the delegate badge issued upon registration was a small, high frequency RFID tag containing information about the delegate – name, company and so on. As the delegate left the demonstration area they walked through a gateway, or ‘portal’. The portal picked up the information in the tag, transferred it to the screen in order to thank the delegate personally for visiting the i3W stand.

i3World Issues and Features

Indoor GPS

The well established ability to determine location anywhere on the earth’s surface using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is being seen as an attractive facility to incorporate into mobile telephones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and other mobile devices in order to support location-based services. Such developments are being driven in part by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) whose E911 mandate requires that all cell phones will be able to signal their position. Personal safety benefits are foremost in this respect – the phone must be able to determine its location using the GPS system and forward the location co-ordinates via the wireless network to the emergency services when their number is dialed (van Diggelen & Abraham. 1991(a)). While reductions in the costs of GPS components are favouring their integration into mobile systems, the fact that the performance of GPS systems are considerably impaired when attempts are made to use them within buildings or densely built up areas, to the extent that they are often not useable at all under such circumstances.

The traditional GPS system uses satellites which transmit information about their position and allow, through ground-based system calculations transparent to the user, the ground position to be determined. Information from several satellites, in view at the same time, are needed to achieve this result. A number of factors can influence the accuracy and resolution performance of a GPS system, including the motion of the receiver and since it is the receiver that calculates its position by combining the satellite position data with the time of arrival of encoded signals it must be sufficiently sophisticated to handle sources of potential error.

One of the limitations of the GPS system is that the data transfer rate is relatively slow, and this means that it can take awhile for the receiver to initially download the necessary data from the satellite and calculate its position. More significantly, from a mobile communications standpoint is the limitation on receiving the data stream within buildings due to the weakness of the signal received indoors.

Assisted GPS (A-GPS) was developed to overcome some of the problems of traditional GPS, particularly those of performance and speed. Via a server it provides the receiver with the data that it would otherwise download from the satellites, such as the satellite’s position in the sky, which means that the search for the correct frequency is quicker (van Diggelen & Abraham. 2001 (b)). However, A-GPS is not enough alone to enable reception indoors.

GPS receivers make use of correlators to detect and access the satellite signal. Receiver sensitivity is dependent upon the number of correlators it has – the more correlators, the more sensitive the receiver. In order for GPS to work indoors, A-GPS plus a very large number of correlators (known as ‘massive parallel correlation’) are required. Systems that are beginning to use this technology use chips containing over 16,000 correlators in a mobile handset (at least 500 times more than traditional GPS systems - Global Locate, 2003). This gives the receiver many more chances to fully access the encoded signal, even when it is very weak indoors.

In addition to assisted GPS and the developments in GPS equipment the prospect is also seen for the integration of radio-based local positioning systems to better facilitate indoor and outdoor coverage. The stage is set for continued development of GPS-accompanied mobile communications; the extent to which integration will occur in mobile systems will ultimately be governed largely by costs.

References
Van Diggelen, F & Abraham, C. 2001(a). Indoor GPS: The No-Chip Challenge. GPS World. September.
Van Diggelen, F & Abraham, C. 2001(b). Indoor GPS Technology. CTIA Wireless-Agenda.
Global Locate. 2003.Technology Overview. Globallocate.com.

I3World News

I3W was prominently represented at the two day FoodTracE Conference, which was staged in the Olympia Conference Suite London, March 11th and 12th. 

With new mandatory European legislation less than two years away every player in the food traceability chain, including farmers, growers, food suppliers, manufacturers, processors, haulier, distribution specialists, retailers and inspectors are now looking for those successful solutions that will identify every single item that passes through their particular part of the chain.

The four track Conference programme, which attracted visitors from 17 countries, looked at : Traceability in Law; Traceability in Practice; Traceability - the Future. 

i3World presented the fourth programme which addressed the food supplychain in general, with speakers from Deloitte Consulting, Logtek, Texas Instruments, Savi Technologies, Intellident, GIST and Innovate 21. Visitors were also able to join a unique Theatrical Journey of Discovery, presented by i3World, which highlighted the latest multi-media techniques. The journey featured the latest innovations and technological advances, with stops at frequent points along the foodchain to demonstrate new benefits and advantages. The programme will be available shortly on CD and a 68 page printed proceedings book of the entire conference is available at a cost of £25 ($40 / 40 Euro's) from neil@i3world.org

i3W Target Europe

A multi-million Euro project proposal has been submitted to the European Union for consideration as part of the Framework 6 Information in Society Technologies (IST) priority. It is an ambitious project with many prominent international partners. The objectives of IST are to ensure European leadership in the generic and applied technologies at the heart of the knowledge economy. It aims to increase innovations and competitiveness in European businesses and industry and to contribute to greater benefits for all European citizens. For more information www.i3worldnews.org/
showarticle.php?id=010503

Market Growth

The world market for Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies in 2000 was estimated (Venture Development Corporation) to be in the region of US$5.4 billion (USA $3 billion, EMEA $1.6 billion, Asia Pacific $0.8 billion). Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is seen as the significant growth market, valued in 2002 at just over US$1 billion (Tags at $76 million and hardware, software and services US$965 million) with estimates of reaching US$258 billion by 2007 (transponders $255 billion, hardware software and services $2.7 billion), indicative of a growth rate of 35% (compounded annually) for supplier revenues through to 2007.

In a further statement dated 17th March Venture Development Corporation highlight three trends as standing out as primary forces shaping regional trends in RFID IC fabrication, integration, sourcing and support. www.i3worldnews.org/
showarticle.php?id=020503

AIDC in Events in Middle East

The Sharjah Expo Centre has announced a Regional First in Communications and Tracking which will help show organisers keep control and help exhibitors gain maximum benefit. This moves them ahead of other centres in the region and offers a highly sophisticated wireless communication network, integrated with mobile computing systems at its modern new facility in the United Arab Emirates. The technology allows Expo Centre Sharjah to manage its events better and helps exhibitors track visitors and retrieve and manage sales leads more effectively. The new system brings together Symbol Technologies ground breaking switched wireless networking systems with its hand held computers, barcode scanning and mobile voice over IP technology (voice calls carried over data networks) into a single, integrated solution.

Press Releases

A regular feature of i3World Express will be a summary of interesting press releases from around the world. Please send your press releases to news@hightechaid.com, but do not forget to include a URL to the full release on your web site. Here are this month’s selections.

Intellident's RFID MultiScanner offering high speed performance and accuracy

Intellident, the UK's leading RFID systems integrator, has developed a new generation of fully ruggedised MultiScanner systems, which offer unrivalled dynamic anti-collision tag reading capabilities. This enables multiple RFID tags to be read and written to, simultaneously and instantaneously, as they move through the MultiScanner portal.
http://www.intellident.co.uk/
Press/PressReleases?news_
item=IntellidentsRFIDMulti
Scannerofferinghighspeed
performanceandaccuracy

Fractal Announces TagDesigner Facility for Custom RFID Tags

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 24, 2003-- Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. today reports the launch of its new antenna/tag designing facility for RFID tags. The innovative approach opens up new opportunities for custom-shaped tags and labels in the exploding RFID industry, making new uses possible while shrinking the size of RFID tags. http://www.fractalantenna.
com/nca_news_23.html

Smart Active Labels Consortium Outlines Initiatives For 2003 And Beyond
Four Project Teams Will Spearhead Consortium Activities

WAKEFIELD, Mass., USA - April 7, 2003 - The newly formed Smart Active Labels Consortium (SAL-C) will identify and support existing standards to help speed adoption of emerging smart active label technology by organizations worldwide. ... http://www.sal-c.org/4_
news/pr_030407.htm

Texas Instruments RFid Systems Expands 13.56 MHz Access Control Product Family With New Tags and Readers

LAS VEGAS, NV (March 26, 2003) ­ Texas Instruments RFid Systems (TI-RFid™), today announced that it is expanding its 13.56 MHz access control product family with the addition of RFID keyfobs and adhesive labels as well as two new readers: the Long Range Gate Reader and the Pin Pad Reader. 
http://www.ti.com/tiris/docs
/news/news_releases/2003/
rel3-26-03a.shtml

Iridian Announces UAE Deployment of First National Iris-Based Border Control System

Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 18, 2003The General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police in the United Arab Emirates and Iridian Technologies, Inc. announced today the official launch of the world’s first National Iris-based Expellees Tracking and Border Control System. http://www.iridiantech.com/
news.php?page=1&rel=
031803

New EM4222 is an ultra small UHF RFID CHIP
and with minimum complexity, it provides a very cost-effective solution for logistics applications

MARIN, Switzerland - March 24, 2003 - EM Microelectronic, a company of the Swatch Group, announces that it has developed a new UHF RFID circuit EM4222 which is the first UHF circuit in a series of products that will create durable changes in the world of transponders for logistics applications.
http://www.emmicroel
ectronic.com/DetailNe
ws.asp?IdNews=49

Intellident Launch Unique RFID Advisory Service

Intellident are the UK's leading RFID system integrators and have for sometime, recognised the need and the benefits in providing clients who are thinking of moving from traditional AIDC systems to an RFID system with a high level of independent, unbiased advice and assistance in the selection of the optimum RFID solution.
http://www.intellident.co.uk/
Press/PressReleases?news_
item=IntellidentLaunchUnique
RFIDAdvisoryService

Texas Instruments RFid Systems Forms OEM Agreement With AMAG Technology to Offer 13.56 MHz Access Control Solutions

LAS VEGAS, NV (March 26, 2003) ­ Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (TI-RFid™) Systems today announced that AMAG Technology Group, a division of Group 4 Falck, a global technology solutions provider in the security industry, will resell Texas Instruments’ line of 13.56 MHz RFID cards and readers for access control. 
http://www.ti.com/tiris/docs/
news/news_releases/2003/
rel3-26-03b.shtml

Viisage Technology to Acquire ZN Vision Technologies AG;Companies Join Forces to Create New Standard in Facial Recognition Technology; Strengthen Global Market Leadership

LITTLETON, Mass., Mar 31, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Viisage Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: VISG), the leader in identity verification, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the capital stock of privately held ZN Vision Technologies AG in exchange for 6,360,000 newly-issued shares of Viisage common stock.  http://www.corporate-ir.net/ire
ye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=VISG&
script=410&layout=0&item_id=
395435

Library Technology at Nottingham Trent University ahead of the rest of the UK
Students at The Nottingham Trent University are set to benefit from state of the art library technology in advance of any other university in the UK.

The new technology, which will be piloted at the university's Brackenhurst campus in May and rolled out across the rest of the university over the next year, will allow students to take advantage of a self service facility and check out their own books which will considerably speed up the current manual service.  http://www.intellident.co.uk/Pre
ss/PressReleases?news_item=
LibraryTechnologyatNottingham
TrentUniversityaheadofthe
restoftheUK

EAN International Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

EAN International, the global leader in facilitating efficient international business, announced today that Mr Miguel-Angel Lopera has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer in succession to Mr Brian Smith, who is retiring.  Mr Lopera will take up the appointment on Monday 28^th April 2003 and be based at the organisation's Head Office in Brussels. http://www.ean-int.org/Doc/
NR 3-03 CEO Appointment.doc

SAMSys' RFID Reader Used at Sun Microsystems'Worldwide Analyst Conference 

2003TORONTO, ON - April 3, 2003 SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY:TSX-VEN) ("SAMSys"), a world leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions, today announced that its SARS MP9210 RFID reader was successfully implemented within the Sun Worldwide Analyst Conference 2003 (WWAC 2003), held by Sun Microsystems, Inc. last month. 
http://www.samsys.com/defa
ult.php?alpha=company&beta
=news&action=read&section=
pr&release=1049362716

Texas Instruments and ScreenCheck Team Up in Access Control and Security Market

LAS VEGAS, NV (March 26, 2003) ­ Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (TI-RFIDTM), a leading provider of RFID solutions to the security industry, is teaming up with ScreenCheck to offer the company’s Card Management System software with TI’s 13.56 MHz access control solutions. 
http://www.ti.com/tiris/docs/
news/news_releases/2003/
rel3-26-03.shtml

SAMSys Technologies Appoints James “Tres” Wiley to President and COO of SAMSys

TORONTO, ON - April 9, 2003 SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY:TSX-VEN) (“SAMSys”), the world leader in providing radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions today announced the appointment of James “Tres” Wiley to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. 
http://www.samsys.com/defa
ult.php?alpha=company&beta
=news&action=read&section=
pr&release=1049895536

SAMSys Technologies and RSI ID Technologies Sign VAR Agreement

TORONTO, ON - April 14, 2003 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 RSI ID Technologies, a leading supplier of Auto ID solutions. 
http://www.samsys.com/defa
ult.php?alpha=company&beta
=news&action=read&section=
pr&release=1050327181

Intellident Selected by Marks & Spencer to tag 350 million items of clothes

In what is thought to be the largest ever clothing tagging project in the world, Intellident has won the contract to supply its RFID tracking technology to Marks & Spencer - one of the largest retailers in the UK. http://www.intellident.co.uk/
Press/PressReleases?news
_item=IntellidentSelectedby
MarksSpencertotag350
millionitemsofclothes

Simon Segars joins Plastic Logic Board of Directors

CAMBRIDGE, UK – 7 April 2003 – Plastic Logic, a leading developer of plastic electronics technology, announced today that Simon Segars (aged 35) had joined its board of directors as an independent non-executive director
http://www.plasticlogic.com/
news-detail.php?newsid=82

SAMSys Technologies and UK-Based Systems Integrator TrenStar UK Sign VAR Agreement

TORONTO, ON - April 28, 2003 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 UK-based systems integrator TrenStar UK. http://www.samsys.com/defa
ult.php?alpha=company&beta
=news&action=read&section=
pr&release=1051536049

Wafer thinning service offered
Thin wafers are as thin as paper; they can be used for smart cards and RFID.