Electronics Emergency

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) has been described as the oldest new technology! It has been nearly fifty years, its value in identifying Aircraft in flight during the Second World War was quickly made by the British Air Force. The next forty years, technology has been mainly used in security applications, building access, road tolls and key chains.

RFID is a technology infrastructure that will impact virtually all business processes. But RFID isanother new technology, and therefore we expect to see where it takes us in many applications. If RFID is well documented within specific business scenarios, but the benefit to the consumer are still little known apart from Londoners with their Oyster cards and Parisians with their Navigo cards. However, most people have used RFID without achieving their key chains, and one or two have found this facility so convenient that their doors are locked at home the same way.

Whatis certain however is that RF is here to stay, with drivers and major positive proof of concept across many industries: Libraries food and drink, aerospace, government, transportation, health details , pharmaceutical, logistics, automotive, security etc. IT and construction industry have a huge chance.

Because of the need to identify vital equipment quickly, the military were naturally interested in technology that could help take the guesswork out of inventory andlogistics. Wars in foreign lands create massive logistic problems, the soldiers need bullets, food, etc., if necessary, regardless of price or location. Battle of preparation is the key to military success.

Use of RFID by the U.S. military has been quickly identified by large retailers like Wal Mart, Metro Group, Target and Tesco who felt that the ability to "see" inventory in their supply chains would help eliminate errors in delivery, shortages, shrinking, human error etc and also help in buildingpushed demand chains consumption. Cost money in stocks, and uncertainty causes stock build on by all stakeholders in the supply chain. High inventories, or empty store shelves simply reflect a lack of knowledge. Awareness of goods flying off the shelves of retailers by the manufacturer is extremely useful for creating production runs. But for now retailers focus on the benefits of pallet and case tagging. Manufacturers and retailers are working closely together to eliminateineffectiveness of their supply chains. This helps consumers by keeping the stock right on the platform at competitive prices, and America where item level prescriptions are implemented by a group of major pharmacies (CVS Pharmacy), it enables better management and inventory control of drugs. Therefore, if a drug in a pharmacy within three months of its shelf life may be sent to another pharmacy where the demand for this specific drug is greater. In addition, it will flag up any unusual drugsales or errors.

But to speak only of RFID in supply chain, is to miss the point.
New technologies: sensors, (words or smart dust), Nanotechnology and community broadband wireless wide, GPS, change the landscape for professional and lifestyle in general. Some argue that this is the greatest technological transformation of the 21st century. It will transform our towns, our work processes and our lives.

A number of RFID applications in collaboration withinnovations such as EPCglobal and normalizations around wireless spectrums can actually cyberspace to interface with the real world. Concepts such as the expression "Internet of things" means that every object in our physical environment can be identified and confirmed its status in real time. Soon, everything you own, including your household assets will be aware that you own! The flight will be difficult!

We are witnessing the rise of "Real World Awareness ", which will have huge implications for us all. This is not only the identification of a package of frozen peas in a freezer room, but allows the freezer to indicate to the operator of its status in real time.
Does the freezer need maintenance? The doors are closed, lights off, the material taken into account. Is there fresh raspberries in the freezer? The ability to flag potential problems, eliminate errors, reduce costs and effectiveness of race.

RFID sensors are playing an important role in> Aviation Safety. Airbus and Boeing have fully endorsed RFID and mandated their supply chains to integrate this technology into their product offerings. If you've ever watched the cockpit of the plane first you will see a couple of dials on the dashboard. First pilots required the help of flight engineers, navigators and radio operator to fly. Drivers have followed "by the seat of their pants", using their skills and experience. Now consider the latest Airbus 300 series! Around600 sensors all automatically working in harmony to provide engines and aircraft are all in good working condition. Risks are constantly reduced. Pilots are not only able to deal with the complexity currently handled by wireless sensors and onboard computers.

To be able to identify a foreign object like a bird caught in a jet engine after a successful flight can also save huge amounts of fuel.
Again, to identify a minor fracture on a rotor blade before alarge crack can prevent a serious accident. After each flight a full log of activity of aircraft engine is downloaded on a preventive maintenance personnel looking for irregularities.
These data are essential for safety and efficiency in the airline industry.

These sensor innovations are also happening in Formula 1. McLaren Mercedes have around 50 sensors throughout their car engine and chassis to help improve performance. The cars race along at over 200 mph give theirMechanical Back at the track essential data on the performance of their engines. Mechanics are not even aware that drivers are about to change gear! This new sensor technology works well despite a difficult environment with massive security problems.

The British Nuclear Group is deploying the solution Ubisense sensors to map and identify radiation levels and location of each worker to increase employee safety and effectiveness.

Metro Group Future Store Initiative in Germanyoffering a vision of detail tomorrow. Shoppers do not notice anything unusual, except that each shopping trolley has a PDA that can help consumers find the products. Item level tagging is still a bit far, but the ability of smart shelves at Metro to identify when an item is removed from the board is very useful for staff back-office, and the ability to identify goods about to leave the date and helps reduce their prices to maximize profits. In addition there is a whole new industrymarketing and promotional ideas to come and walk together as consumers of products placed for sale.
Replacing inventory based information is essential to effective implementation and improved retail experience for business customers.

Nearly 7,000 U.S. gas stations are allowing customers to fuel their vehicles faster by the simple gesture of their RFID fob. Just fill and go! The fuel fobs have been so successful that their use is now considered in the catering outlets where convenience and service are the keyhappy and loyal customers.

New sensors based in houses, smart kitchens, hospitals, factories, public parks, roads and parking spaces what will this mean for society, our privacy and sorting of some of our major social and economic problems?
Are we able to draw from these emerging technologies and strategically to the Olympics to show the world that companies in the United Kingdom is fit and ready?

China is currently building fifty cities with smart sensors embeddedeverywhere. Sensors to help improve traffic flow, bridge structure, water management and improved transport networks. At the micro and macro level, where are the benefits to industry and citizens. If everything is tagged (people and goods), then a site can become a workplace safer. Project planners can ensure a look that materials and tools are in place before engaging in constructors. Chemicals can flag attention if positioned with hazardous materials or poorlypositioned. We can control air, water and waste by tiny sensors, or at least remotely monitor public safety in real time. We can perhaps drive better greener strategies and homes for improved energy consumption.

Dentalab make dental molds by radio frequency tags so that dentists can be alerted if a dental crown is wrong to offer a client. Implicit here are enormous benefits for efficiency and safety. TrentStar, Beer Keg management company assets, deployment of RFID, has been a fivefoldlower costs of beer kegs maintenance. Imagine if all the utility meter was self read? Would that reduce rates? What if parking meters could chat with cars to update parking charges? Singaporeans use their car tags to pay for parking and road use. Big Brother technology can be useful if
managed without abuse. Laws are necessary to protect the public. Would we carry a label with us wherever such allowed our phones to be an oyster card or credit cardstarted our computer when we entered the lot entrance to our office at 15th Floor? Would that increase productivity for employers? And if employers paid our transport fees in recognition?

The FDA approved the use of RFID in use at the point of order.
Now "unit of use" drugs can be automatically adapted to patients POC (point of care).
The ability to ensure the right drug is dispensed to the right patient is essential.
U.S. hospitals record 7000 deathsyear on average due to medication error.
In addition, 750,000 adverse medical events occurring each year, causing great suffering and anxiety for the citizens and caregivers. Counterfeit drugs are a major concern for all. How can technology eliminate this threat?

There are countless example of positive proof of concepts showing where broadband, RF and smart dust-sensors can improve the way our health system is managed.
According to most press statements, our hospitals areserious financial crisis.
But do you supply chains of health care are managed as enterprises in the 60s!
We have electronic commerce and bar code standards, which will soon give way to automatic data capture for all inventory movement within our hospital complex, but we are still far from making emerging technologies save us from money into health.

We have a fantastic technology, but lack of wisdom. Globally Healthcare has incredible economies of scale, but with many localTrusts manage their individual perspectives, we continue to have great complexity and inefficiency in the foreseeable future. What is needed, in my opinion, is a committee "monopoly", which can mandate certain economic principles that ensure patient safety and long-term adoption of best business practices RFID. Standards of healthcare RFID will allow a medical supply chain truly effective, enabling assets, maintenance, resources and people to be better managed andscarce resources deployed where necessary. The patient will experience a marked improvement, cost effective and safe services.

However, technology is not separate to Society. No technology
outside influence people, culture, politics and economics. Everyone "sees" in terms of their personal environment, education, family values etc. Increased awareness of our cultural mindset is important. We could consider this as a "prison mentality." A self-lockingmindset that makes us think a certain way and thus creates our thoughts and our reality confirms. It is a pleasant place to be and change is not always invited in!

A friend of a friend once phoned in a panic to ask for help because his car key ring was flat and she was locked out of his car. It was explained that the key could be inserted manually in the keyhole of the driver's door! She could not believe it and I was surprised to find a hole in the door she had never seen in fouryears!

The point is our reality is motivated by what we do and experience every day, we all have blind spots, like ice merchants of yesteryear who never thought the fringes and freezers would arrive to destroy their business overnight. Anyone Hear fridges where the innovations of tomorrow will run on sound waves? Goggle thermoacoustic refrigeration!

Smart worktops granite will soon be in vogue. Granite carry a number of transponders and a extra large integratedantenna to ensure that all food products placed on the work plan will be synchronized with all other utensils chip, enabling all to the kitchen automatically communicate: washing machine, refrigerator, stove, cooker, toaster , microwave, radio, lighting, central heating, wall tiles, floor, all door locks etc etc. See Do Stone Smart worktops granite http://www.dostone.co.uk. Nasty bacteria on the cutting board Will Self that you own the sink and recycle basket. No child in the kitchen willnever take a pot of rice itself. In-built safety / security will be a standard module in every smart kitchen. Energy efficiency should also reduce fuel costs of 20% of households.

Who in your organization / business or home are responsible for ensuring the horizon to anticipate changes and innovations coming fast forward? To be able to exploit the technology, we must be open to the idea of new technologies, new business processes, changing the way we work, think andlive.

People always come first and our perspective will determine how future technology will be adopted. Thus, a large RFID / emerging technology debate must occur to ensure that we do not squander this opportunity before us. I am working with Two Four Productions to bring this debate to our TV screens, so if someone wants to get involved please contact me.

We need to discuss issues of privacy far more benefits to mankind compromise between the lack of privacy and benefit. Noone you want to discover the vision of George Orwell's become reality, but ubiquitous sensors and new technologies have the ability if deployed correctly to make a positive contribution to our lives. And we must be aware that other parts of the world, hungry for success are less concerned about privacy issues and the rapid exploitation of these technologies.

Health care absorbs a lot of taxpayers' money. Overall about 14% of GDP!

There is little doubt that the services of health care arereturn to live in the community where he was resident. Hospitals are places targeted for operations and all matters of health care while others will be addressed in the context of origin.
Most elderly people prefer independence and deserve dignity. But this is not always possible for parents and friends of pop every day to ensure that everything goes well. Imagine your elderly grandparents lived hundreds of miles away?

With sensors raise the real world, it is possible to have a traffic lightsystem on your PC which will flag up the occasion when Mr X did not lift or make a cup of tea at 7am or any major disruption to the natural flow of activity in their daily lives . Any change in social interaction, for example, may indicate a change in well being, or impending illness reflected early by failure to eat.
Lights come on automatically when a person visits the toilet at night, for example, can help eliminate thousands of hip operations needed per year inUnited Kingdom!

Smart Packaging can indicate whether the correct medication is taken at the correct time and help people better manage their medications.
Nobody will believe in ten years that mobile phones were used for voice only.
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark RFID mobile phone becomes an essential tool for the automated capture of critical medical data in the community. Thus, an internal sensor implant could provide key data via your mobile to your doctor.
However, improved nationalSecurity measures are essential.

Sensors in the medical surgical gloves can help prevent accidents or assisted surgery. Most transactions are conducted in a standard and the use of sensor networks can reflect the current state of an operation with help options, issue reminders, alert other professional risks, etc. and the error can be reduced. Work on this is being done at the Danish Center for Pervasive Healthcare and Intel Research Seattle. This may lead the wayaccelerate medical education and open a better line training for the less wealthy nations.

Again in health care capacity of all hospital staff to be aware of impending operations, surgical and post-operational equipment and identify the persons and property
quickly a task daily mass. Time to search for people and goods within hospitals is enormous. Decontamination must ensure that the correct equipment is the proper remedy theater and conditions specific to the operationdelivery. The reality is that Admissions do not talk with the theater that does not speak to the decontamination and the avoidance of a transaction to around £ 20K a go is not a rare event. Not surprisingly, some health organizations has been described as a family of hostile parents! In this stock bottom is difficult to identify and some hospitals phone their suppliers to determine how much business has been launched the previous month! eCommerce has been around for centuries with tools such asUK HealthLogistics ready to deliver value. Surely a modern supermarket approach here to supply chains efficiency is required.
Who in the health of the EU are allowed to mandate this wisdom? Once this simple decision is mandated who is ready to deliver the first connected hospital?
It will not happen overnight, but problems like hospital cash flow, efficient supply chain, MRSA, adverse medical events (as well as gains from liability mass) may be significantly reduced by sensors and emergingtechnologies.

Soon we will have free community-wide broadband.
Sweden last month gave access to free broadband for all citizens, with speeds 100 times faster than we have in the United Kingdom. Milton Keynes has recently followed suit, and City of London has promised to business free broadband to everyone within the Square Mile. This new infrastructure is important as we begin to realize that broadband is not only a tool for Internet access and VoIP for free, but an essentialinfrastructure for real-world awareness.

From a perspective of one of the most prominent of these emerging technologies will be the massive amount of additional digital data collection and the need for new hardware, software and robust standard networks to collectively make it all work.

A whole new infrastructure will be needed to capture, control, provide consistency, and context to massive amounts of new information flowing faster. Global standards and systems interoptabilityand data will be necessary. Again EPCglobal Gen2 Tags, better readers, etc., make great progress here.

However, we may need to rethink how we teach our engineering, medicine, indeed all students. Ten years ago, it was enough to teach an engineering student in the program in addition to their core subjects. But now with massive technological change and awareness of the real world how can we ensure our professionals are the speed in the multiplicity of knowledgemust make strategic policy decisions.

We are at the dawn of the integration of converging technologies, and if we get it right we can offer the city of tomorrow Some large global solutions. New environmental problems may be solved by emerging technologies. Let's just do it!

Dermott Reilly

Consultant Strategic RFID

Do Stone Ltd

London

www.dostone.co.uk