
Home	Services	Standards	Technology	Locate

January 2004

Steve Halliday

From the editor's desk!

Welcome to the latest issue of the High Tech AIDCourier.

Welcome to 2004. As we start this new year, I am tempted to look back at last year, but have decided that we had so much change last year that it would not be constructive.

I had said that last year was to be the year of the pilot and I think that although we saw some big pilots, they were over-shadowed by the many other news items that happened. Wal*Mart, DoD, and privacy were all big issues in 2003 and I am sure they will be in 2004. But what will happen in 2004. I believe this will be the year of education.

While many scramble to get their systems together to conform with the mandate they need to meet, we will find that this is the year when we will really learn what RFID can do. there will be education for all; the manufacturer, the systems integrator and the end user.

As education is a big part of what High Tech Aid is about, we hope that you will think of us and give us a call when you realize that you need help. Happy New Year to all and let's hope this year works out well for all of us.

As always, providing this newsletter is just a part of what we have to offer here at High Tech Aid. When your problem needs have you overwhelmed, then you need to get help and that is why we are here. We specialize in education, but the spectrum of services is much greater than that. Call or email us for more information. Visit the web site www.hightechaid.com for more information on basic technology details as well as many other things.

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. If you have news to share or info you need, let me know at steve@hightechaid.com.

Technology News Briefs

Radio Frequency Identification

RFID spending to grow

A report by IDC stated that spending on RFID products (hardware) will grow to $875 million in 2007. http://www.electricnews.net/news.html?code=9386645
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nf/20040108/tc_nf/22960
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103_2-5136650.html

Near Field Communications

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Visa and Philips announced their intent to work on NFC to allow payments without swiping a card. http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103_2-5137952.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed

UPS to support RFID

United Parcel Service is working to provide a means of tracking with RFID according to the Wal*Mart and DoD requirements. http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,88424,00.html?nlid=AM

Secure RFID?

The EETimes site reports that there is a need to provide secure measures around the reading of tags to ensure that personal data is not being distributed. http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20031201S0024

Is RFID a problem

USA Today has an article explaining why privacy is an issue, but some of the facts don't ring true. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/
2003-12-19-kantor_x.htm

An RFID primer

Here's a good start on getting that knowledge about RFID, but make sure you get the rest of the story. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3292521

And here is a start at debunking those myths that exist . http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3296031

Mad Cows cause problems

The detection of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the U.S. has everyone scrambling for information. There has been a government project to implement RFID tracking for many months, but no funds. There are even ISO standards for this. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3294481
http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,88680,00.html?nlid=ERP
http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,88687,00.html?nlid=ERP
http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,88625,00.html?nlid=MW
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0105/
web-madcow-01-06-04.asp

Smart labels grow

According to a report from Cleveland-based Freedonia Group Inc., shipments of smart labels will grow to 11 billion units valued at $460 million by 2007. http://www.frontlinetoday.com/frontline/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=80361

Delta tags bags

Delta Airlines has stated that the test of RFID was a success with accuracies of 96.7% to 99.8%. http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,88390,00.html?nlid=MW
http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/technology/
story/0,10801,88446,00.html?f=x2305

Food tracking in Japan

Looking to provide some of the history of food products, an experiment in Japan has been setup to add tags to the shipping boxes of foodstuffs. http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=4&id=284342

RFID is not scary

At last, an article that starts to put some sense into those statements we have all heard about RFID tracking our underwear. http://www.out-law.com/php/page.php?page_id=rfidscarestoriesi1071488883&area=news

Stirring the soup

So what do you do when you want to track cans of soup? And while the article says that you can track cases of cans, can you read all those cases on a pallet? http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1414163,00.asp

DoD plans pilots

Pushing ahead with its plans to deploy RFID by 2005, the DoD has announced four pilot systems that will give it more information for the mandate. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=16700663

RFID - where are the benefits?

We all know that RFID is a benefit, but exactly who gets the most benefit and how much is it? A report from A. T. Kearney tries to answer some of the questions. http://retailindustry.about.com/cs/it_rfid/a/bl_atk111003.htm

RFID - where are the benefits? - II

Several companies are jumping in with their versions of the costs and savings involved with implementing an RFID system. http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/erp/story/
0,10801,88130,00.html?f=x2305
http://www.amrresearch.com/Content/view.asp?pmillid=16866&docid=11237

U.K. store tracks food

Selfridges, a U.K. department store that also sells food is looking at RFID to track stock movements. http://www.whatpc.co.uk/News/1151609

SAP to integrate RFID

The Walldorf, Germany-based company is developing a means to integrate RFID with its current products. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1406433,00.asp

RFID improves food safety

New European regulations mean that tracking food is now a way of life and RFID is there to help. http://www.vnunet.com/News/1151665
http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com/newsroom/news_view.phtml?news_id=648

U.K. adopts RFID

More than half of U.K. manufacturers are looking to implement RFID in some part of their corporations. http://www.vnunet.com/News/1151685

Wal*Mart pushes the envelope

In the same way that they mandated high quality bar codes, Wal*Mart is looking to ensure that their mandate for RFID gets treated with respect by all the suppliers. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/business/stories/
122803dnbuswalmart.968ef.html

RFID - no fear!

Contrary to viewpoints being publicized, RFID is not the spawn of the devil and the benefits it brings can make a big difference to a company. http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030925/5532478s.htm

Companies prepare

RFID is coming but are the companies ready to meet the challenges set by Wal*Mart and the DoD? Some are and there are several companies who are offering services that will help. But in the end, everyone is still learning about RFID. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17200035
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cmp/20040108/tc_cmp/17200525

RFID chips

Have you ever wondered about all those poker/gaming chips at the casino? Well RFID might be the solution to move them into the next level. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994542

RFID - the cost cutter?

Reports from companies have shown that spending on RFID is going to grow. Privacy experts tell us that we cannot allow it, but a report from Forrester Research says it has have found that people will give up their privacy for cheaper shopping. http://www.silicon.com/management/government/
0,39024677,39117651,00.htm

RFID Standards

As I write this newsletter, I am thinking about the standards meetings that start next week. Maybe we can break everything free and get some documents out and published.

If you want more information on ISO standardization or on any issue of RFID standardization, then email steve@hightechaid.com.

Biometrics

The state of biometrics?

Is it right or wrong? Does it work or not? Is it an intrusion of your privacy? Silicon.com tries to sift through the information. http://www.silicon.com/software/security/
0,39024655,39117627,00.htm

Florida police collect faces

Using facial recognition tools, the Pinellas County, Florida police are checking all their arrests against prior arrests. http://gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/24505-1.html

Body odor biometrics

Will deodorant really be the criminal's best tool against capture? Identifying individuals by their smell is a possibility. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/
0,11026,1113313,00.html

Fingerprint access

Access to temples in India is a big deal and so they have solved the problem by using fingerprint scanners. http://asia.cnet.com/newstech/security/
0,39001150,39162957,00.htm

Clock in with your finger

In Alabama workers are using their fingers to clock in, or rather their fingerprint. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/34704.html

U.K. biometric passport

The U.K. has put together a plan to test a biometric passport to help understand how it will move forward to implement the U.S. government's requirements. http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,113846,00.asp

Should biometrics take off?

The Economist asks if biometrics are really a good solution to the issues that face us today. http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=rich_story&doc_id=6878

And are they viable?

Silicon.com looks at the viability of biometrics to produce the solutions we need. http://www.silicon.com/comment/0,39024711,39117348,00.htm

And which works best?

There are many different biometrics available and there are systems that can measure most of them, but which is the best? http://www.it-analysis.com/article.php?articleid=11534

Wireless Computing

China regulates wireless

And U.S. companies are protesting the decision. http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-chiwifi15dec15,0,4258701.story?coll=la-headlines-technology

Intel IS Wi-Fi

At least that is its plan. The chip maker is pushing Centrino-based laptops as the solution to networking needs in 2004. http://news.com.com/2100-1006-5121812.html

Wi-Fi tracking

Use Wi-Fi to do the work of RFID. Maybe this is the solution for your problem. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3292661

A roaming, a roaming we go

Wi-Fi appears to be everywhere, but until now it has not been an easy thing to use, with many suppliers offering their own networks. Now we are starting to see some agreements that will make it easier for us to get access. T-Mobile and iPass have signed agreements, MCI and Boingo have agreements. And Boingo is adding more hot spots.
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5125124.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/cmp/20031218/tc_cmp/17000201
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/34642.html

AT&T offers an EDGE

Rolling out its next generation GSM/GPRS based EDGE data network, AT&T hopes to provide a national network of high speed links. http://techextreme.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=22721

High speed Wi-Fi

With roaming agreements starting to appear, the next step is to speed up the access and speeds greater than 100Mbps seems to be the target. http://www.mobilepipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17200483

Verizon speeds up

Announcing that it will spend $1 billion on its new CDMA EV-DO data network to provide data access at speeds of 300-500 kbps, Verizon has taken the lead on data over phones. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/34780.html
http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/
0,10801,88867,00.html?f=x10

WLAN pre-standard

Hoping to gain a competitive edge in the same way it did for 802.11g, Broadcom is looking to release a 802.11n chipset in advance of the standard. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/34788.html

Wi-Fi needs boost

In signal that is. Several vendors are looking at smart antennas to improve the range of access points and so reduce the number required to cover a given area. http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,88487,00.html?nlid=MW

UltraWideBand

UWB meeting

A call to meet to discuss the use of UltraWide Band technology and to set the standards for its use. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/12/prwebxml94746.php

UWB standard fails

Unable to reach consensus last month on the new 802.15.3a standard, the committee sees no hope of resolution and the chance is that the two proprietary technologies will compete for the role of de-facto standard. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/34631.html

UWB startup

A new company in the UltraWide Band arena has shown that the investors are not upset about the standards problems as it gets $31.5 million. http://www.internetnews.com/wireless/article.php/3295481

Samsung chooses Motorola

The battle lines have been drawn up and the first strike is made. Samsung Electronics demonstrated UWB technology from Motorola at the recent CES show. http://www.mobilepipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17300047

Homeland Security

US-VISIT works!

In the few days since it has been active, US-VISIT has recorded fingerprints and photographs of more than 83,000 visitors and it has caught 30 criminals. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040108/wl_afp/
us_attacks_air_worldwrap_040108234925

Brazil-VISIT?

In retaliation to the US-VISIT program that will fingerprint and photograph U.S. visitors, Brazil have announced that they will do the same to all U.S. citizens. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=1&u=/nm/20040101/ts_nm/
brazil_usa_immigration_dc

Privacy

Biometrics privacy

The Biometrics Institute has released a draft version of the Biometrics Privacy Code and is seeking comments to assist with the development of the document. http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php?id=1220832513&fp=16&fpid=0

Is US-VISIT private?

After all the lead up and now its introduction, the US-VISIT program is getting scrutinized about its privacy implications. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2004/
tc2004018_3753_tc073.htm

Caspian head under attack?

Katherine Albrecht, founder and director of Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN) has asked the Grocery Manufacturers of America to explain an email that is trying to create a personal attack. See Press Releases for the Caspian release and GMA response. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/09/1073437446204.html

General Technology

Motorola licenses WOZ

Steve Wozniak's new Wheels of Zeus technology for wireless networked consumer products http://news.com.com/2100-1034-5137416.html

Symbol emerges

In a surprise announcement the CEO of Symbol has stood down, and the company has restated its financial earnings and now believes that issues are past. http://www.internetnews.com/wireless/article.php/3293891
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031230/bs_nm/tech_symbol_dc_3

Ubiquitous computing

Is it now a reality? Compared to 20 years ago, some say it is, but what can it really mean? http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800326464_499481,499490.HTM

Press Releases

A regular feature of HighTechAIDCourier will be a review 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:

New Regulations Open The Way For RFID Tags For Tracing Food, Forrester Believes

Amsterdam, Netherlands, December 15, 2003 . . . Regulations that mandate the ability to trace the origins of food are being put in place to control the food chain, solve food scares quickly, and prevent bioterrorism. In Europe, The Health and Consumer Protection Directorate will come into law on 1 January 2005, and The Bioterrorism Act in the United States came into effect last week. According to a new brief by Forrester Research B.V. (Nasdaq: FORR), tagging food with RFID tags will help manufacturers and retailers comply. http://www.forrester.com/ER/Press/
Release/0,1769,871,00.html

Industry Recommends Solutions for Preventing Prescription Drug Counterfeiting

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the growing problem of counterfeit drugs introduced in the U.S. drug supply system, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) submitted a report -- Industry Points of View on Counterfeit Prevention -- to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a commentary on policy issues surrounding prescription drug counterfeiting, and offering recommendations on anti-counterfeiting measures. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/
031216/dctu028_1.html

AXCESS Announces Universal RFID Connectivity to Security Systems

RFID can now easily augment existing access control systems with automatic "hands-free" access and asset protection

DALLAS, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AXCESS International Inc. (AXCESS - OTC Bulletin Board: AXSI), a leading RFID and digital video solutions provider to the security industry announced today universal connectivity to building and gate access control systems for its ActiveTag(TM) RFID system. Using hardware options and powerful middleware, any access control security system can be easily upgraded to take advantage of the automatic identification and control capabilities of RFID (radio frequency identification). http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin
/stories.pl?ACCT=SVBIZINK3.story
&STORY=/www/story/12-18-2003/
0002078006&EDATE=THU+Dec+
18+2003,+09:05+AM

STMicroelectronics Announces Acquisition of Wireless-LAN Chip Developer Synad Ltd

ST strengthens its broadband access portfolio and adds wireless networking capabilities to its wide range of highly integrated cost-effective application platforms

GENEVA, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) announced today the acquisition of the wireless-LAN developer Synad Technologies Ltd. Synad is a fast-growing UK startup that has rapidly revealed itself as one of the most successful WLAN fabless companies and one of the few able to deliver a full dual-band multi-standard solution. Synad has a proven multimode full CMOS production-ready chipset and reference design, and powerful software suites for both wireless-LAN access point and client applications. http://www.prnewswire.com/
cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&
STORY=/www/story/12-18-2003/0002078075&EDATE=

Plan for Library Book Tagging Generates Privacy Concerns

Electronic Frontier Foundation Advises Public Library

San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today sent a letter to the San Francisco Public Library Commission (SFPLC) warning of privacy concerns in the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging of library books. http://www.eff.org/Privacy/
Surveillance/RFID/20031002
_eff_pr.php

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Orders $2.6 Million of Drexler Technology's LaserCard Optical Memory Cards for Use as Enhanced ''Green Cards''

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2003--Drexler Technology Corporation (Nasdaq:DRXR) has received a $2.6 million LaserCard order for newly enhanced Permanent Resident Cards ("Green Cards") for the U.S http://home.businesswire.com/
portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndm
ViewId=news_view&newsId=
20031219005087&newsLang=en

Matrics Announces RFID Tag Agreement With International Paper

International Paper will use radio frequency identification tags from Matrics, Inc. to improve inventory tracking and customer service

COLUMBIA, Md. and STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Matrics, Inc., a pioneer in the advanced development and standardization of low-cost, high-performance UHF Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) smart label technology, today announced a contract with International Paper to supply RFID tags for use in tracking inventory as part of IP's new Warehouse Tracking System (WTS). http://biz.yahoo.com/
prnews/031215/nym189_1.html

Symbol Technologies and IBM Offer Industry-Specific Mobile Computing Solutions

Delivering Increased Productivity to Customers in the Retail, Public and Travel Sectors

HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. - December 15, 2003 - Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: SBL), and IBM today said they are developing a new generation of advanced hand-held wireless and scanning solutions customized for specific industries to help customers improve operational efficiency. http://www.symbol.com/news/
pressreleases/pr_agreements_
symbol_ibm.html

SAMSys Technologies Announces Senior Auto ID and Security Expert Steve Hall as Vice President of Sales and Marketing

January 7, 2004 - Durham, NC - SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY:TSX-VEN) ("SAMSys"), an international provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions and consulting services, today announced the appointment of Steve Hall as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Hall, formerly with Peak Technologies has joined SAMSys to increase sales, reinforce the company's commitment to its VARs, and develop the company's marketing presence in the RFID industry. http://www.samsys.com/default.
php?alpha=company&beta=news
&action=read&section=pr&
release=1073496264

Independent Study Evaluates Biometrics Accuracy: IBG's Comparative Biometric Testing Round Five Available for Purchase

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2004 -- International Biometric Group announced today the commercial availability of results from Round Five of its Comparative Biometric Testing (CBT), the industry's leading independent comparative biometric test effort. The Testing measures systems' ability to enhance security in real-world applications such as border management, air travel and logical access. http://www.biometricgroup.com/
press_releases/
pr_2004_CBT5.html

Errant Email Suggests Industry Attempt to Smear RFID Activist Grocery Manufacturers of America and Gillette CEO asked to explain

An errant email sent by a Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) employee suggests that the organization may be resorting to personal attacks to deflect growing criticism of member company RFID plans. The GMA is the world's largest association of food, beverage and consumer product companies. Its membership includes known proponents of RFID, including Gillette and Procter & Gamble. http://www.spychips.com/gma.htm

Grocery Manufacturers of America Issues Apology to RFID Privacy Activist Character assassination not condoned, says GMA CEO

GMA CEO C. Manly Molpus issued an apology for an errant email that suggested the organization might be formulating a smear campaign against an RFID privacy activist. According to email evidence, a GMA employee emailed Katherine Albrecht, Founder and Director of Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN) to request a copy of her bio, "for our sources. http://www.spychips.com/
gma_response.htm

Savi, Symbol And Matrics To Host RFID Symposia For Suppliers Faced With The Pentagon's New Supply Chain Technology Rules

Advanced Wireless Tracking Systems and Associated Software Solutions Will Be Clarified by Industry Leaders Already Serving the Defense Department

WASHINGTON, DC - Dec. 15, 2003 - Three leading provider-partners of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) supply-chain tracking solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial enterprises -- Savi Technology, Symbol Technologies and Matrics - are hosting a series of educational seminars for suppliers seeking to meet new RFID requirements for the U.S. military. http://www.savi.com/news_events/
2003releases/dec15-03.html

BIO-key Achieves 0% False Accept and False Reject Results in Independent Biometrics Test

Test Results Demonstrate Biometric Accuracy Critical for Large Population And Mission Critical Identification Applications

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BIO-key International (OTC Bulletin Board: BKYI), a leader in finger-based biometric identification, announced today it received a 0.00% False Accept Rate (FAR) and a 0.00% False Reject Rate (FRR) in the medium security category, in independent testing done by the International Biometric Group. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/
stories.pl?ACCT=SVBIZINK3.story&
STORY=/www/story/01-09-2004/0002086372&EDATE=FRI+
Jan+09+2004,+07:00+AM

NCR Introduces RFID Store Services Portfolio

Tailored to retailers' needs, offerings range from initial assessment consulting to implementation of RFID solutions

ATLANTA - NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today announced a broad portfolio of consulting and support services designed to help retailers unleash the potential of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. http://www.ncr.com/media_info
rmation/2004/jan/pr010904.htm

Octave Names New President; Company to target growing $3B RFID industry

Octave Technology has re-organized its management team, placing start-up executive (and the company's VP of Commercial Business) Richard Stack at the helm. This move coincides with Octave's declaration that it will seek venture capital in 2004 and enter the growing market of RFID-based software development.

College Park, MD (PRWEB) January 12 2004--Octave Technology, Inc. has made a key executive appointment in order to strengthen the company's progression with RFID & Auto-ID software development and their market strategy, naming Octave's Vice President of Commercial Business Solutions, Mr. Richard Stack, as the firm's new President. http://www.prweb.com/releases/
2004/1/prwebxml98063.php

Microsoft Smarter Retailing Initiative Supported by More Than 20 Leading Companies

Built on Open Industry Standards, the Smarter Retailing Technology and Solutions Framework Drives Consistency and Enables Partners to Develop Applications for the Next Generation Of Retail Innovation That Integrate With Key Enterprise Solutions

NEW YORK, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the National Retail Federation's (NRF) 93rd Annual Convention & Expo, more than 20 leading companies announced their support for Microsoft Corp.'s (Nasdaq: MSFT) Smarter Retailing Initiative (SRI), a comprehensive solutions framework for enabling the next generation of retail innovation. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/
stories.pl?ACCT=SVBIZINK2.story&
STORY=/www/story/01-12-2004/
0002087131&EDATE=MON+
Jan+12+2004,+06:02+AM

Manhattan Associates Announces Support for Microsoft's Smarter Retailing Initiative

Manhattan Associates' Warehouse Management for Windows and Microsoft-Based RFID Solution Bring Superior Supply Chain Execution Performance to Retail Customers

NEW YORK, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Manhattan Associates(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: MANH), the global leader in supply chain execution (SCE) solutions, today announced its support for Microsoft's Smarter Retailing Initiative, a comprehensive solutions framework for unleashing the next generation of retail innovation. Manhattan Associates' support for the initiative is the latest development in an ongoing relationship between the companies to bring leading- edge supply chain execution solutions to enterprises that rely on the Microsoft platform. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/
stories.pl?ACCT=SVBIZINK6.story&
STORY=/www/story/01-12-2004/
0002087155&EDATE=MON+
Jan+12+2004,+07:00+AM

Intel and Leading European Retailers - Carrefour, METRO Group and Tesco - Help Improve Supply Chain Visibility

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2004--Working together to further improve supply chain efficiencies and customer loyalty, Carrefour, Intel Corporation, METRO Group and Tesco have formed a European working group to accelerate the adoption of Electronic Product Code (EPC) technology. The technology will help improve inventory control, which will lead to reduced operating costs and increased margins. http://home.businesswire.com/
portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=
20040112005445&newsLang=en

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:

Need to explain atomic physics to your school child? Maybe this will help. http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/

What about chemistry? If you need some more information, try this site. http://catalyst.8media.org/

Or you could always look at semiconductor physics with Britney Spears http://britneyspears.ac/lasers.htm

Then of course you could try to inspire your child and help them to see that movie stars have brains too. http://cooltown.hp.com/
mpulse/1102-lamarr.asp

How about some games? Try the sushi race. http://www.tokidoki.it/
pages/main.html

Or the world's smallest Pacman game http://www.guimp.com/
pacman_flash.html

Here's an optical illusion page http://www.sunbelt-software.com/stu/illusion.htm

Or you can read the movie reviews (the bad ones that is) http://www.badmovies.org/

Like to race toy cars? I was brought up with a Scalextric racing car set and now it seems that I will be able to race cars across the net with other similarly interested people. http://www.theregister.co.uk/
content/6/34770.html

The Fine Print

Links on web sites frequently change. Any link to articles outside of the Hightechaid.com web site 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/aidcourier_archive.htm

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.



Home	Services	Standards	Technology	Table of Contents
© 2002-8 High Tech Aid	Newsletter	Search	News	Privacy Statement