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July 2008

Steve Halliday

From the editor's desk!

Welcome to the latest issue of the High Tech AIDCourier.

This month we are getting back on track as the world takes a vacation (well northern hemisphere world any way) and things slow down a little.

The big news this month has been the article in the Journal of the American Medical Association regarding the problems of operating RFID in the hospital environment. Unfortunately the article seems to be full of holes with little of the rigor you would expect from an article published in a Journal such as this. Below you will see several comments on the article, but it appears to me that the authors did not think about real world use and were looking for a way to get published. While I think it is critical to ensure RFID does not could cause a health problem in any environment, I am upset that I and many other companies are doing damage control for claims about poorly constructed tests. In working with the vendors, I know that the industry is willing to stand behind the technology and do any testing that may be necessary to show that RFID is safe (or not). The industry’s two largest associations are very concerned about this and have been working together to find ways to provide good information about any potential issues that may exist. Hopefully in the near future we will see some real world testing that shows us if there is anything to be concerned about.

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Technology News Briefs

RFID Standards

There has been little action in the world of standards as everything catches up from the meetings that took place in June. The next group of meetings take place in August.

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

Radio Frequency Identification

Impinj sells its non RFID business

Moves forward as a solely RFID company

http://www.edn.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA6574295
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2008/07/01/44041/
virage-logic-pays-5.2m-for-non-volatile-memory-ip-business.htm

Impinj Buys Intel RFID Operation

Will round out RFID portfolio

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Infrastructure/Impinj-Buys-Intel-RF
ID-Operation/

MATT REAM:

Manufacturing batteries with a printing press

http://www.rfidsb.com/5-minute-interviews/398-matt-ream-manufacturing-batteries-printing-press.html

90% of Brits haven't heard of contactless cards

And 75% of fear them

http://www.contactlessnews.com/news/2008/07/07/nearly-90-of-
brits-havent-heard-of-contactless-cards-and-75-of-fear-them/

Chip Maker

Sues to Quash Research on RFID Flaws

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/148273/chip_mak
er_sues_to_quash_research_on_rfid_flaws.html

Blue Spark Technologies

Expert Pete Kuzma Named Panelist

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/blue-spark-technologi
es-expert-pete/story.aspx?guid=%7BBB07E6BD-384E-441D-85
85-C8CA15F5CEF6%7D&dist=hppr

ROBERT CORNICK:

RFID buyers are still asking the wrong question

http://www.rfidsb.com/5-minute-interviews/404-robert-cornick-
rfid-buyers-still-asking-wrong-question.html

PersonalChip laundry tags

To track garments

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/datamars/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=59840

RFID Shows Potential in Africa

Even as High Costs Remain Cause for Concern

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/rfid-shows-potential-in-africa,467260.shtml

Commercialization of RFID Technologies

Is Resulting in Reduced Costs of Tags, Interrogators

http://storage.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45
0705

Former executive

Looks to block VeriChip sale

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080709/fl_verichip_lawsuit.html?.v=1

Beijing

Scales back RFID ticket plans

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/09/beijing_olympic_rfid/

Hi-G-Tek and IDENTEC SOLUTIONS Partner

To Offer ISO Standard 18000-7 Active-RFID

http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/701911.h
tml
http://businessvoip.tmcnet.com/topics/trends/articles/33442-hi-
g-tek-identec-develop-wireless-rfid-solution.htm

Electronic tags up and running

In Bermuda

http://www.bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID
=24&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=38046&TM=58097.59

Electronic tags

To take thinking out

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,23959262-7582,00.html?from=public_rss

Hynix will mass-produce RFID chip next year.

5 cents RFID is expected

http://english.etnews.co.kr/news/detail.html?id=200806300002

Is RFID

Too Dangerous for Hospitals?

http://english.etnews.co.kr/news/detail.html?id=200806300002

Dutch Researcher

Cracks Popular RFID Smartcard

http://www.insidetech.com/news/2447-dutch-researcher-cracks-
popular-rfid-smartcard

Checkpoint

Acquires Successful RFID Startup OATSystems

http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/RFID/showArticle
.jhtml?articleID=208800824

Lack of RFID standards

Leads to media panic

http://healthcare.zdnet.com/?p=1093

JAMA article shows

RFID causing EMI incidents?!

http://loftware.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/jama-article-shows-
rfid-causing-emi-incidents/

Biometrics

Federal identity programs

Boost biometrics market

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=40391&dcn=
e_gvet

New biometric standard

Proposed for financial industry

http://www.secureidnews.com/news/2008/06/26/new-biometric-standard-proposed-for-financial-industry/

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Large hospitals, IDNs

Drive use of RFID in healthcare settings

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=9516

Study Published in JAMA on RFID Interference

Ignores Real-World Use Cases, According to SkyeTek

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/study-published-in-ja
ma-on,466432.shtml

Hospitals

Roll out RFID

http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39256999,00
.htm

Reader's response

To scare about RFID use in healthcare

http://www.eetimes.eu/france/208803365?cid=RSSfeed_eetimesEU_france

Worries

Over potential RFID threat to medical equipment

http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/rfid-blog/2008/06/rfid-wo
rries-over-threat-to-me.html

'Hospital risk'

From radio tags

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7471008.stm

Privacy

RFID

Fact and fiction

http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;419048159;fp;2
;fpid;3

Wireless

ST and NXP

Lacking its own identity?

http://www.eetindia.co.in/ART_8800532239_1800005_NT_57dd
579d.HTM?click_from=RSS

Homeland Security

Criminals snared

By new biometric cross-checks

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/vdunet/20080709/ttc-criminals-snar
ed-by-new-biometric-cr-6315470.html

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:

AIM Global Taps Industry Expert to Lead Organization into the Future

Dr. Clive Hohberger of Zebra Technologies Elected New Board Chairman

Warrendale, PA – July 16, 2008 – AIM Global, the industry association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, today announced the election of Clive Hohberger, Vice President, Technology Development of Zebra Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: ZBRA), as the new chairman of the board of directors. Dr. Hohberger succeeds Mr. Jim Childress of LXE, Inc.

http://www.aimglobal.org/memb
ers/news/templates/template.as
px?articleid=3293&zoneid=1

Metal Mount RFID tags Benchmarked by ODIN technologies

Myth Busted: ODIN engineers show RFID works on metal and which tags lead the pack

Dulles, VA: 9 July 2008 – Today ODIN technologies, the leader in RFID deployments, research and automation software released the industry’s first scientific evaluation of passive RFID tags designed to work on metal objects. There is a well circulated myth that passive RFID does not work on metal. There are other myths that only one or two tags will actually work reliably on metal objects. Both myths are conclusively “busted” by the Metal Mount RFID Tag Benchmark™. In fact, the findings show that some of the more popular tags designed for metal are not the top performers. Physicists and engineers from seven passive RFID tag vendors have been steadily improving performance on and around metal surfaces.

http://www.odintechnologies.com
/index.php/about/aboutusnews/
39-newsblog/133-metal-mount-rfid-tags-benchmarked-by-odin-technologies

ASK e-Passport inlays successfully pass PIRA’s ICAO tests

Sophia-Antipolis, July 07, 2008

ASK announces today that the SPID inlay, product of its Identity Business Unit, has successfully passed the ICAO PIRA International tests.

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

Thin Battery Technologies Is Now Blue Spark Technologies

Name change signals the company’s robust expanded line of thin, flexible batteries and growing reach into a broader range of global markets, industries and applications

Cleveland, Ohio -July 14, 2008

Thin Battery Technologies, the leading supplier of thin, flexible printed battery solutions, announced today that the company’s new name will be Blue Spark Technologies – a name that more closely represents the company’s expanded solution offerings and broad range of applications.

http://www.bluesparktechnologies
.com/pressreleases/BlueSparkPR
-07.14.08.html

Sirit Inc. Announces New Board Appointment

Wednesday July 16, 8:23 am ET. John Albright to join as the JLA Ventures representative

TORONTO, July 16 /CNW/ - Sirit Inc. ("Sirit") (TSX: SI - News), a leading provider of radio frequency identification ("RFID") technology, today reported the addition of Mr. John Albright as a new Director to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Albright replaces Mr. Rick Segal as the J.L. Albright III Venture Fund's representative.

http://www.sirit.com/event_releas
e-info.php?id_news=96

Blue Spark Technologies Unveils Innovative Printed Battery Designs

New Blue Spark UT Series (ultra-thin) paves the way for innovative RFID card and label solutions; Blue Spark HD Series (high-drain) provides a power boost to handle drug delivery patches and novelty greeting cards

Last update: 11:11 a.m. EDT July 14, 2008
CLEVELAND, Jul 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Blue Spark Technologies, the leading supplier of thin, flexible printed battery solutions, now offers two additional battery designs that expand potential markets and product development possibilities for the company's eco-friendly, carbon-zinc printed battery technology. The new battery designs are variations on the company's ST (standard) Series of thin battery solutions and were developed in response to customer needs for customized low voltage power sources to power new and existing products.

http://www.marketwatch.com/new
s/story/blue-spark-technologies-
unveils-innovative/story.aspx?gu
id=%7B4A10BDE5-4DDC-48EB-85
48-C6AF8B5D895A%7D&dist=hppr

ThingMagic Closes $9.5 Million in Additional Funding

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ThingMagic, Inc. (www.thingmagic.com), a leading developer of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, has secured an additional $9.5 million in funding from existing investors including Tudor Ventures, The Exxel Group, Morningside Technology Ventures and .406 Ventures.

http://www.businesswire.com/por
tal/site/google/?ndmViewId=ne
ws_view&newsId=2008071400564
2&newsLang=en

Low-Power Ultra Wideband (UWB) Technology Best RFID Choice for Hospitals to Minimize Interference Threat

Tuesday July 1, 10:00 am ET. Time Domain Corporation Available to Discuss UWB Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) in Healthcare Based on JAMA Report

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Time Domain Corporation issues the following:

On Wednesday, June 25, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a report warning that radio frequency identification (RFID) may disrupt the operation of IV pumps and other medical equipment, and occasionally induce "potentially" hazardous incidents in medical devices.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080
701/netu065.html?.v=57

East Asia Tagged as Future RFID Leader

The global RFID industry is expected to see high growth in the East Asian countries due to increasing uptake of the technology for various purposes and vast untapped markets.

(I-Newswire) - RNCOS says in its new research report, “Global RFID Market Analysis till 2010”, the Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID ) industry is expected to see large part of the growth in the East Asian countries such as Japan and China in near future.

http://www.i-newswire.com/pr181
972.html

Sonoco and IPICO introduce RFID technology to paper industry

HARTSVILLE, SC, June 30, 2008 (Press Release) - Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, and IPICO Inc. today announced the availability of the world's first RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled core solution specifically designed for the paper industry.

http://www.risiinfo.com/technolog
y/pulp-paper/news/Sonoco-and-I
PICO-introduce-RFID-technology
-to-paper-industry.html?source=
rss

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:

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.

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