www.hightechaid.com

August 2008

From the editor's desk!

Welcome to the latest issue of the High Tech AIDCourier.

Where has the summer gone? It seems to have flown by this year without us really participating. My kids are already back in school and I am still looking for a moment to catch up.

Part of the summer has gone by so fast because I have been working to get a couple of new RFID products completed and available. The first of these is a document management system called DocStaxx (www.docstaxx.com). The system is designed to be of interest to the smaller applications as well as the larger ones. The details can be found on he web site, but we will be exhibiting and announcing the product at The Future of Secure Documents conference in Chicago (http://www.intertechusa.com/conferenc
es/conferenceDetail.aspx?displayDetail=overview
&WCID=304). Maybe we will see you there.

Are you interested in sponsoring the newsletter?  Drop me a note to editor@hightechaid.com and let me know.

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

Meetings that were held this month in Pittsburgh and Cedar Rapids have moved the status of RFID and RTLS standards forward another notch.

The five days of meetings in Pittsburgh were taken up with discussions on RFID Air Interfaces, RFID Conformance and Performance, and RFID Application Interface Protocols. With representatives from 15 countries as well as two liaison organizations, the meetings were well attended and they covered a lot of work items. A brief summary follows:

• Low frequency (LF - <134 kHz) air interface (ISO/IEC 18000-2) CD ballot was resolved and was sent to FCD ballot
• High Frequency (HF – 13.56 MHz) (ISO/IEC 18000-3) Revision to include the EPC HF air interface was agreed and sent to CD ballot
• Active 433 MHz air interface (ISO/IEC 18000-7) CD ballot was resolved and was sent to FCD ballot
• Issues with the current UHF (860 – 960 MHz) air interface (ISO/IEC 18000-6) were discussed and several countries will have comments to put forward on the current FCD ballot that closes in October.
• Review of the parts of ISO/IEC 18046 RFID Performance document. There is still work to be done before these documents are released to ballot.
• Review of the parts of ISO/IEC 18047 RFID Conformance. Revisions to the HF and LF documents should be started by the next meeting. Revisions to UHF and Active 433 MHz are in progress.
• The ballot results from the final ballot of RTLS Conformance and Performance (ISO/IEC 24769 and 24770) were reviewed and the documents will be sent for publication.
• The various parts of ISO/IEC 24791 (Software System Infrastructure) were reviewed. Part 1 CD ballot will be resolved in the next week, Part 2 should go to CD ballot in November, Part 3 is the subject of a lot of debate as to whether DCI/CAPWAP or Microsoft Web Services are the best way to enable Device Management. Further work should allow some decisions in November, Part 5 will go to CD in the next few weeks.

The meetings in Cedar Rapids were concentrated on RTLS and during the meetings, the current work item ISO/IEC 24730-5 Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) — Part 5: Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) at 2.4 GHz was reviewed and the committee decided to implement a few minor changes and then send it to CD ballot.

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

Radio Frequency Identification

RFID chipmaker loses suit

Says users must take 'urgent' action

http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php?id=1777967920&
rid=-246

Motorola, Alien Technology and Impinj

Top New ABI Research list

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9110556&source=NLT_AM
&nlid=1
http://www.rfidsolutionsonline.com/article.mvc/MotorolaImpinjV
endor-MatrixRFID-Readers-0001

Robert W. Baird & Co.

RFID Monthly for July.

http://www.rwbaird.com/docs/RFID_Monthly_-_July_2008.pdf

Robert W. Baird & Co.

RFID Monthly for August.

http://www.rwbaird.com/docs/RFIDMonthlyAugust2008.pdf

Response to JAMA study

From Skyetek

http://www.skyetek.com/Company/NewsEvents/NewsEvents/tab
id/271/mid/1448/newsid1448/265/Study-Published-in-JAMA-o
n-RFID-Interference-Ignores-Real-World-Use/Default.aspx

Trials allowed

But world-standard RFID on hold in Australia

http://www.qbr.com.au/index.cfm?storyid=35759&cp=displayst
ory

Firms Still Doing Minimum

For RFID Mandates

http://supermarketnews.com/news/cpg_rfid_0801/

Two RFID Regulation Bills

Close in On Governor Schwarzenegger's Desk

http://consumercal.blogspot.com/2008/08/two-rfid-regulation
-bills-close-in-on.html

Study:

RFID Scan Accuracy Drops As Number Of Items Increases

http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/securityfraud/study-rfid-sca
n-accuracy-drops-as-number-of-items-increases/
http://itri.uark.edu/91.asp?code=&article=ITRI-WP112-0608

Revisiting RFID

Again

http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/tve/?p=388

How RFID Tags Could Be Used to Track Unsuspecting People

Biased and error-filled

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=how-rfid-tags-could-be-used&sc=WR_20080826

IDTechEx considers

Booming business of Active RFID and RTLS

http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/2008081432361/wireless/ca
mbridge-firm-runs-the-rule-over-booming-business-of-active
-rfid-and-rtls.html

IDTechEX also considers

Rapidly broadening interest in RFID

http://www.packagingessentials.com/indnews.asp?id=2008-07
-29-21.16.59.000000

DOD Issues RFP

For Active RFID

http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/4280/

FTC to study RFID

As use becomes more widespread

http://www.scmagazineus.com/FTC-to-study-RFID-as-use-becomes-more-widespread/article/115721/

RFID goes prime time

In Beijing Olympics

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10010136-1.html
http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209101142
http://www.bangkokpost.com/gadget/gadget.php?id=627

RFID Used to Expedite Production of Vehicles

For US Defense Department

http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=16965&SectionID=4

Datamars Launches

Revolutionary Textile Identification Package

http://www.textileweb.com/article.mvc/Datamars-Launches-Revolutionary-Textile-Ident-0001?atc~c=771+s=773+r=001+l=a&VNETCOOKIE=NO

The EU gets SMART

On RFID

http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/rfid-blog/2008/07/eu-smart-rfid-project.html

Biometrics

To Reduce Fraud

Students Taking GMAT Will Get Palm Scan

http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/3186/to-reduce-fraud
-students-taking-gmat-will-get-palm-scan?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Israel

Pushes Biometric Database Initiative

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/06/AR2008080600884.html

Thales

Picks up first UK ID card contract worth £18m

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/080408-thales-picks-
up-first-uk.html

Healthcare and Life Sciences

RFID, radio location services

Use soaring at hospitals

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/082008-rfid-radio-location-services-hospitals.html

RTLS

Time Domain's New PLUS(TM) 2.0 System

Delivers UWB Real-Time Precision Location at 'Wi-Fi Pricing'

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080723/new006.html?.v=56

Bar Code

What Kind of Information is Hidden in Barcodes?

An artist's viewpoint

http://flowingdata.com/2008/07/29/what-kind-of-information-i
s-hidden-in-barcodes/

Homeland Security

‘Fakeproof’ e-passport

Is cloned in minutes

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4467106
.ece

Passengers

Test new face scanners

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7568686.stm

Sponsored by:

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:

Fluensee Acquires TrenStar Tracking Solutions

Fluensee Gains Customers in New Industries and Scalable SaaS Offering Leading RFID-enabled asset management solution provider Fluensee today announced the acquisition of TrenStar Tracking Solutions and its North American operations, assets, customers and intellectual property.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) July 28, 2008 -- Leading RFID-enabled asset management solution provider Fluensee today announced the acquisition of TrenStar Tracking Solutions and its North American operations, assets, customers and intellectual property.

http://www.emediawire.com/releas
es/2008/07/prweb1147224.htm

Public Review of New Chinese Bar Code Announced by AIM Global

Grid Matrix Document Available for Download and Comment

Warrendale, PA -- August 26, 2008 -- AIM Global, the trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, today announced that the Public Review Draft of the International Symbology Specification – Grid Matrix developed by AIM Global's Technical Symbology Committee (TSC) is available for a 30-day public review.

http://www.aimglobal.org/membe
rs/news/templates/template.aspx
?articleid=3318&zoneid=1

AIM Global Announces Public Review of New Bar Code Specification

DotCode Document Available for Download and Comment

Warrendale, PA -- August 26, 2008 -- AIM Global, the trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, today announced that the Public Review Draft of the International Symbology Specification – DotCode developed by AIM Global's Technical Symbology Committee (TSC) is available for a 30-day public review.

http://www.aimglobal.org/member
s/news/templates/template.aspx?
articleid=3317&zoneid=1

ODIN selected as RFID partner for Customs and Border Protection Deployment

Unisys $62 million contract with the Department of Homeland Security anchored by RFID technology

Reston, VA, 15 July 2008 – ODIN technologies, the leader in RFID deployments and automation software, was chosen as a lead RFID deployment partner for the $62 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) contract awarded to Unisys in January.

http://www.odintechnologies.com/i
ndex.php/about/aboutusnews/39-
newsblog/135-odin-selected-as-rfi
d-partner-for-customs-and-border
-protection-deployment

AIM Global Hosts Executive Event at RFID World

Industry Experts and Analysts Address Strategic Issues

Warrendale, PA – August 12, 2008 – AIM Global, the trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, announced plans to host The Inside Track – an AIM Executive Roundtable on Monday, September 8, 2008 immediately prior to the start of the 2008 RFID World Conference and Exhibition at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, USA.

http://www.aimglobal.org/member
s/news/templates/?a=3308&z=1

AIM Global Announces Availability of Quality Guidelines for Tire RFID

RFID Experts Group (REG) Completes Work on Verification Procedures for RFID Chips and Transponders for Tires

Warrendale, PA – August 5, 2008 – AIM Global, the trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, today announced the public availability of AIM Global RFID Guideline REG 396: RFID chips and transponders — Verification and qualification of design and manufacture — Part I: Tires.

http://www.aimglobal.org/member
s/news/templates/?a=3303&z=1

Sirit Reports Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Toronto, ON – August 5, 2008 – Sirit Inc. (“Sirit”) (TSX: SI), a leading provider of radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology, reports its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008. All amounts are stated in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise noted.

http://www.sirit.com/event_release
-info.php?id_news=97

Lisbon once again selects ASK for 25 million contactless paper tickets

Sophia-Antipolis, July 30, 2008

ASK announces today that OTLIS, the Lisbon transport operators, once again selected C.ticket®, ASK contactless paper tickets for their Automatic Fare Collection ticketing system. Whether you take the metro, buses, the tram, trains or the Transtejo ferry, you can enjoy your trip with contactless technology, as a tourist this summer or an urban and suburban user all year round.

http://www.ask-rfid.com/uk/news/
news_article.php4?id=0

Milestone of 20 million RFID-Inlays per month surpassed: SMARTRAC maintains its leading market position

SMARTRAC N.V., a leading supplier of RFID components, has accomplished an all-time high. In June 2008, production and shipments of RFID components from SMARTRAC’s production location in Thailand for the first time exceeded 20 million units in one single month.

http://www.smartrac-group.com/en
/pm.php?type=pm&id=142&year=
2008

Time Domain’s New PLUS™ 2.0 System Delivers Ultra Wideband (UWB) Real-Time Precision Location at ‘Wi-Fi Pricing’

Interaction-Level Real-Time Location at a More Affordable Cost

Huntsville, Alabama – July 23, 2008 – In a move to deliver improved real-time precision asset visibility in healthcare, manufacturing, safety/security and retail environments at a more affordable price, Time Domain Corporation, a leader in precision ultra wideband (UWB) real-time location systems (RTLS), today announced the availability of its new PLUS™ 2.0 product line.

http://www.timedomain.com/news/
plus20.php

FTC to Host Workshop to Explore Consumer Protection and Privacy Implications of Radio Frequency Identification Applications

The Federal Trade Commission will host a “Transatlantic RFID Workshop on Consumer Privacy and Data Security” on September 23, 2008, to explore emerging applications of radio frequency identification technology and their implications for consumer protection policy.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/08/tr
ansatlantic.shtm

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 we didn't have time to play. More next month.

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