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September 2007

Steve Halliday

From the editor's desk!

Welcome to the latest issue of the High Tech AIDCourier.

This month I have been looking closely at the state of RFID; where we are going and how we are getting there. I was very surprised to come up with the same conclusions that we saw over a year ago – the lack of understanding about the technology is still way too high. We need to get some good education available that will help at the basic level about RFID. When a potential user of the technology tells me that they do not understand the difference between passive and active RFID and how the frequency selection can be important, I begin to worry. As an industry, we seem to have forgotten that we had to learn and are not taking the right steps with a user to make sure they understand the limitations. Or is it that we have grown to the stage where the vendors’ sales staff do not understand and are trying to force fit technology into applications that they just cannot service?

We are still looking for another sponsor for the newsletter, so if your company would like to be a sponsor, please give me a buzz at editor@hightechaid.com.

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 editor@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 news@hightechaid.com.

Technology News Briefs

RFID Standards

The end of the summer brings an end to the quiet period in the standards world. There have been many documents released for the various ballot stages in the ISO arena. Many of these close out in the next month or so and we will soon be back into meetings. The various National Bodies in ISO are currently working on their own views and votes on the various standards. There are ballots currently running for ISO/IEC 18000 parts 1, 3, 6, and 7. There are also ballots running in other areas for RFID.

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

Radio Frequency Identification

METRO to Penalize RFID Non-compliance

Is going to pass through the additional handling cost of an untagged pallet http://www.rfidupdate.com/news/08242007.html#article_14
31

RFID: Between a rock and a hard place

Slippery Rock University students will use RFID as IDs and debit cards. http://www.dcvelocity.com/viewpoints/?article_id=1040&source=fromVelocityViewpoints

EPA to test use of RFID system

To track hazardous waste http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=37887&dcn=e_gvet

HEI, Inc. Announces Sale of RFID Division Assets

To Smartrac Technology US, Inc. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/A
QF900A31082007-1.htm

Defense launches broad-based RFID procurement

Potential bidders expressed disappointment at its value http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=37920&dcn=e_tcmg

New chip promises to track kids from miles away

“Super RFID” http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6206
514.html?tag=nl.rSINGLE

RFID to hit the slopes this winter

If you ski at Vail or Breckenridge this year http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201805181

An Insider's Experience With Wal-Mart's RFID Mandate

Most companies that supply goods to Wal-Mart have ignored its RFID mandate. http://www.informationweek.com/management/showArticle.j
html?articleID=201804820&cid=RSSfeed_TechWeb

RFID battery assisted provider PowerID

Raised $12 million http://israelsciencetechnology.blogspirit.com/archive/2007/0
9/04/rfid-battery-assisted-provider-powerid-raised-12-milli
on.html

RFID, LTD. Responds to Recent Share Price Decline

It is not aware of any specific, negative, internal developments that may account for the recent decline in price. http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/busines
swire/2007/09/04/businesswire20070903005226r1.html

Reva investors chip in $10.5M for RFID growth

Report that RFID test sites are becoming full-scale rollouts http://masshightech.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2
007/09/03/story13.html

TAGSYS ANNOUNCES

New RFID infrastructure for libraries http://www.itrportal.com/absolutenm/templates/article-doch
ard.aspx?articleid=4173&zoneid=23

Is RFID for Kids?

Personal implants for kids http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,2177284,00.a
sp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532

Dillard’s Gears Up for Item-Level Pilot

A jeans manufacturer will apply tags to individual garments. http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/3574/

RFID in China

The biggest RFID market this year. (Report summar
y) http://www.idtechex.com/products/en/view.asp?productcategoryid=138

Scottish self-learning RFID

Gets seed funding http://www.wirelessnetdesignline.com/news/201801448;jsess
ionid=A35WZ0Q2K4JRIQSNDLRCKHSCJUNN2JVN

TAGSYS Announces Two Apparel RFID Deployments

Products speed through distribution center http://www.rfidupdate.com/articles/index.php?id=1427&from
=rss

Griva Implements Alien RFID Fabric-Tracking System

Traces fabric roll throughout production http://www.textileworld.com/News.htm?CD=5&ID=13528

Biometrics

Uncovering the Good and Bad of Biometrics

A majority of U.S. consumers want financial institutions to protect them against identity fraud. http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=2D2V4I
UFU0YLAQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN?articleID=201202953

Air France to trial biometric boarding passes

Fast-track your way through airport checks using a fingerprint scan. http://www.smh.com.au/news/Technolog
y/Air-France-to-trial-biometric-boarding-cards/2007/09/05/1188783321720.html

Home Office to roll out biometric technology to UK borders

Will catch illegal immigrants http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/08/01/225951
/home-office-to-roll-out-biometric-technology-to-uk-borders
.htm

Schools to fingerprint students for security

The community is not ready for schools to adopt biometric technology. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/sch
ools-to-fingerprint-students-for-security/20
07/09/01/1188067438565.html

Siemens sees annual sales growth

More than 30 pct in biometrics http://money.cnn.com//news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AF
X-0013-19155577.htm

Uncertainty Over Biometrics

Could Hamper ID Card Plans http://www.headstar.com/e
gblive/?p=47

Iraq Biometric Databases

STILL Can’t Talk to Each Other http://warisboring.com
/?p=530

Healthcare and Life-Sciences

GSK plan to beat drug counterfeiters faces being scrapped

Fraught with problems http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sec
tors/health/article2324186.ece

GlaxoSmithKline Remains Committed to RFID

Quick to deny previous news article http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/3584/1/1/

RFID

A Seismic Shift For The Pharmaceutical Industry? http://www.rfidsolutionsonline.com/content/news/article.asp?
DocID=%7BFE46414F-3ABC-40D7-873D-ACD6BFFC0EC4%7D&Bucket=Contributed+Editorial

Chip Implants

Linked to Animal Tumors http://www.bradenton.com/439/story/141238.html

VeriChip Defends the Safety of Implanted RFID Tags

There is no evidence, the company maintains, to support the notion that implanting RFID chips in animals or humans causes tumors. http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/36
09/

However, Stock plummets

As RFID chips linked to cancer reports http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=7b3
66985-d943-4061-8313-f7c912c24b6f

RFID to Cure

Detroit Hospital Device-Tracking Ailments http://www.rfidupdate.com/articles/index.php?id=1436&fro
m=rss
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.js
p?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070828005635&new
sLang=en

Hospitals need RFID injection

According to Frost and Sullivan http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0,3904419
2,62031433,00.htm

Southern hospitals give RFID system the thumbs up

Active RFID tags are attached to assets or to individuals http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=7625

Hospital using barcode technology to reduce medicine errors

Combines Bluetooth wireless technology and hand-held scanners to read barcodes http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2007/08/13
/daily28.html

RTLS

RTLS Market

To Exceed $1.6 Billion by 2010 http://www.rfidupdate.com/articles/?id=949

Ekahau to Enable Advanced Patient Tracking Solution

In Belgian Hospital http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/dailynews/2007/aug/23/ne
ws4.html

mPhase Technologies Acquires

A 10% Equity Stake in Sovereign Tracking Systems LLC http://philly.citybizlist.com/feature/featureDetail.aspx?id=9313

Real time location systems are the new buzz in RFID

Look after your assets http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/21/aeroscout_location
_systems/

Privacy

California Passes Bill To Ban Forced RFID Tagging

Forced "tagging" of humans with RFID chips the ultimate invasion of privacy. http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201803861

NZ: 'Promiscuous' RFID a data threat

Warns Privacy watchdog http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/D83E8424E8F435F
6CC2573470082076B

Government Report Outlines RFID Privacy Risk

Focuses on RFID applications for asset management, tracking, matching, and process and supply chain control. http://www.rfidglobal.org/news/2007_7/2007072714383891
73.html

How to: Wire Your House with RFID

Door locks, pet doors, computer logon and more http://www.rfidgazette.org/2007/06/how_to_wire_you.html

Wireless

New Bluetooth Consumer-Friendly Standard Approved

Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,135561-c,bluetooth/article
.html

Finnish Parking Pilot Taps RFID Tags and NFC Phones

Automatically deducts payment from a designated account. http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/3602/

NXP equips BenQ handsets with NFC features

Its first commercially available NFC cellphones. http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800477704_499488_NT_3a17
6961.HTM?click_from=RSS

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:

Solstice Medical forms Alliance with Magellan Technology for Medical RFID Solutions

Solstice Medical expands its tailored RFID solutions for the medical industry offering Magellan’s superior PJM RFID technology

Sydney, Australia and Fort Wayne, USA - Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Solstice Medical, LLC, a leading medical device asset management company and provider of advanced RFID and software solutions for the medical industry, announced today a new alliance with Magellan Technology. http://www.magellan-rfid.com/pages/frms/news/solsti
ce.html

SAVR ANNOUNCES ISSUANCE OF RADIO FREQUENCY MACHINE TO MACHINE (M2M) PATENT

IRVING, Texas . August 22, 2007 . SAVR Communications, Inc. is an innovator of cost effective, intelligent, and adaptable radio frequency systems, autonomous track and trace devices, and custom wireless solutions. http://www.savrcom.com/pdfs/SAV
R%20NRC%20Press%20Release.pdf

2 Airports in Cyprus choose for Nedap AEOS

Two of Cyprus’ main airports, Paphos International, and Larnaka International, have selected AEOS from the Dutch manufacturer Nedap as their main security management system. http://www.nedap-aeos.com/en/news/news38.php

Nanotron Strengthens Management Team

Berlin, August 17th 2007 – Nanotron Technologies, a leading provider of wireless location based solutions, today announces that it has strengthened its management team by attracting Richard Ord to its executive management who will help the company through its next phase of significant market expansion.

Richard Ord has joined the company as Chief Operations Officer signaling the immediate benefit of the new investment round led by zouk ventures ltd.
http://www.nanotron.com/EN/NE_rel
eases_2007-08-17.php

Geneva Airport Secured with AEOS solution from Nedap

AIG, Aéroport International de Genève chooses the security management system AEOS from the Dutch manufacturer Nedap.

Aéroport International de Genève is one of the most dynamic airports in Europe. In 2006 alone it handled almost 10 million passengers and 170.000 flights to 100 destinations, serviced by 150 different companies. http://www.nedap-aeos.com/en/news/news40.php

Intermec RFID Hardware First to be Certified for Use in China

EVERETT, Wash., August 21, 2007 - Intermec (NYSE: IN) today announced that its passive ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID (radio frequency identification) readers are the first RFID hardware to be certified for operation in China by the country's State Radio Regulation Committee (SRRC) http://www.intermec.com/about_us
/newsroom/pr_detail.aspx?c=1074
29&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1042204
&highlight=

AIM Global Takes on Chinese Language Symbology Effort

Association Begins Work on 2D Matrix Symbology Optimized for Chinese

Warrendale, PA -- August 29, 2007 -- Along with China's leadership in the manufacture of world goods has come the need to improve efficiencies in data collection and exchange. Existing bar codes are optimized for Western alphabets and are not optimized for encoding the Chinese language. http://www.aimglobal.org/member
s/news/templates/aimpress.asp?a
rticleid=2821&zoneid=1

Sirit Announces Microsoft BizTalk Server Compatibility

BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Provides Native Support for Sirit's INfinity 510 RFID Reader

TORONTO, Sept. 10 /CNW/ - Sirit Inc. ("Sirit") (TSX: SI), a leading provider of radio frequency identification ("RFID") solutions, announced today that a device provider for their INfinity 510 RFID readers will be available for Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2. This facilitates fast and simple integration of Sirit readers into RFID implementations using BizTalk Server 2006 R2. http://www.sirit.com/event_release-
info.php?id_news=69

RFID Medical Cabinets Benchmarked Head-to-Head

ODIN labs evaluates RFID-enabled Smart Cabinets against 12 criteria

Dulles, VA, September 12, 2007 – ODIN technologies, the leader in RFID research, deployment and infrastructure software, has released the industry’s first benchmark on RFID-enabled Smart Cabinets for use in hospital, university and healthcare settings.
http://www.odintechnologies.com/1
96/newsarticle.html

Intelleflex Increases Production of Next-Generation RFID Tags

Selects Strategic Manufacturing Partner for Volume Production of Its Extended Capability RFID Tags

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intelleflex Corporation, the Leader in Extended Capability RFID, today announced its strategic partnership with Pimatronics Ltd., a Hong Kong-based electronic manufacturing services provider with a volume production facility in China, to fabricate its line of next generation extended capability RFID tags. http://home.businesswire.com/por
tal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmVi
ewId=news_view&newsId=20070828
005343&newsLang=en

Smart Card Alliance Says No to Long-Range RFID Choice for Enhanced Driver's Licenses, Citing Privacy, Security Concerns

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ--(Marketwire - September 6, 2007) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and several states including Arizona, Vermont and Washington, have recently announced programs to develop and issue enhanced state driver's licenses that could be used as acceptable alternative documents for crossing the United States' land and sea borders. The Smart Card Alliance has serious privacy and security concerns for U.S. citizens participating in these programs based on the direction DHS has been recommending for the enhanced driver's license technology. http://www.marketwi
re.com/mw/release.do?id=767026

Impinj Forms Alliances With Software Vendors to Speed RFID Deployments

Application-Specific RFID Software Integrated With Best-in-Class RFID Hardware Products for Comprehensive Solutions

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - August 27, 2007) - Leading UHF Gen 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) tag chip and reader supplier Impinj, Inc. today announced alliances with a growing group of independent software vendors (ISVs) to deliver comprehensive, quickly deployed RFID solutions. http://www.marketwire.com/mw/rel
ease.do?id=764095&sourceType=
3

Secured Digital Awarded $692,000 Contract to Install RFID Inventory Management System

[08/27/07] Secured Digital Applications, Inc., a leading provider of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services and systems integrator for RFID enabled tracking applications, announced that the Company was awarded a contract to install a RFID Inventory Management System for a Malaysian food cannery. http://www.morerfid.com/details.p
hp?subdetail=Report&action=detai
ls&report_id=3417&display=RFID

Reva Systems Announces TAP Release 2.0 Delivering Enhanced RFID Value

Support expanded for fixed and mobile RFID readers, centralized reader firmware management and seamless integration with enterprise software from IBM, Microsoft and SAP

CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reva Systems, the leading radio frequency identification (RFID) network infrastructure provider, today announced general availability of its release 2.0 Tag Acquisition Processor (TAP) and accompanying Management Console products.
http://home.businesswire.com/por
tal/site/home/index.jsp?ndmV
iewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=10
00001&newsId=20070820005029&
newsLang=en

Surge in production deployments as Ubisense releases world's first UWB real-time location system certified for use in both US and EU

Release date: 20 Aug 2007 Taking advantage of common US and EU ultra-wideband (UWB) regulations, Ubisense has developed its new Series 7000 UWB real-time location system (RTLS) for both geographic markets and has now released the product after completing extensive production testing with customers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Cambridge, 20th Aug 2007. "Production installations of the Ubisense Series 7000 system offer our customers much greater range, lower infrastructure cost and a much lower sensor density than legacy WiFi and active RFID solutions while offering an order of magnitude greater accuracy", observes Udo Rieger, General Manager of eseg, the Germany-based logistics security company.
http://www.ubisense.net/26/news.h
tml

The Horizon Real-Time Location System from McKesson Optimizes Asset Utilization, Saves Hundreds of Thousands in Unneeded Costs

August 16, 2007 PITTSBURGH-McKesson, the world’s largest healthcare services, automation and information technology company, today announced the general availability of the Horizon Real-Time Location System™. The system uses a hospital’s existing 802.11 Wi-Fi network, active RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, and software to instantly track the location and movements of critical assets and hospital personnel. http://www.mckesson.com/en_us/M
cKesson.com/Our%2BBusinesses/
McKesson%2BProvider%2BTechnol
ogies/Newsroom/The%2BHorizon
%2BReal-Time%2BLocation%2BSy
stem%2Bfrom%2BMcKesson%2BO
ptimizes%2BAsset%2BUtilization%
252C%2B08-16-2007.html

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:

Famous people used to be young http://www.wxpnews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=050726FA-Show

That's one smart bird: http://www.koreus.com/video/smart-bird.html

Will this be our future? http://sunsite.nus.sg/pub/humour/
future-home.html

Wrecked exotic cars http://www.wreckedexotics.com/

For those who have nothing better to do - Money Origami http://members.cox.net/crandall11
/money/inde
x.html

Speaking of illusions http://www.thefunnypage.com/illus
ion1/

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