Among the presentations that raised eyebrows at the recent DefCon convention in Las Vegas was one from RFID Guardian: A portable device that "offers personal RFID security and privacy management for people," as the Website of the RFID Guardian Project puts it.

In other words, the RFID Guardian can detect RFID tags and readers in the immediate vicinity and emulate tags, and then spoof RFID readers into believing that there tags present when there are none, or that there are no tags when they're actually present.


Developed by a team led by Melanie Rieback, a Ph.D. student at Vrije University in the Netherlands, the Guardian is currently in the prototype stage. But Rieback, an American doing her graduate work under Professor Andrew Tanenbaum of Vrije, definitely sees it as the forerunner of a consumer device.

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IBM Farms Out RFID

Big Blue teams with startup TekVet to prevent outbreaks of livestock diseases.


IBM and TekVet, an agricultural technology startup, unveiled an RFID-based early warning system Thursday for infectious animal diseases such as mad cow and hoof and mouth.

The application, the result of three years of R&D from Salt Lake City-based TekVet, is a much-needed PR bonanza for radio frequency identification, which has taken a number of hits for its potential for abuse as a human surveillance technology.

TekVet employs an active RFID tag inserted into the ears of farm animals that collects and sends information about the health and whereabouts of cattle and other livestock.

Knowing the body temperature of a farm animal is an important indicator of its health. For instance, it is a critical indicator of where the female is in her ovulation cycle.

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It’s all about ensuring personal safety, when Wtek introduces their product line of RFID safety systems in Australia.

Wtek is a Norwegian based firm, specializing in track-and-trace solutions for harsh environments. Wtek is represented through partners in 26 countries worldwide. They have developed a unique RFID safety system, using their own Trailblazer RFID middleware.

By wearing a transmitter, the whereabouts of all personnel is verified in the case of an emergency.

The Watcherseries, with products for tunnels, mines, industrial buildings and offshore platforms will become a great contribution to existing safety systems throughout Australia.

Wtek’s RFID safety systems have already been installed in industrial production areas, maritime areas, tunnels and mines throughout Europe. Through a RFID or WiFi transmitter carried by personnel, and one or more receivers connected to a computer; administration or rescue personnel can at all times know the whereabouts of the workers.

For rescue teams, the systems are of great help if an incident should occur. For company administration the systems are of great assistance when increasing efficiency and establishing a feeling of safety among the workers.

The transmitters and receivers come in different sizes and with different specifications, to suit different customer needs. The flagship transmitter is using active RFID technology, and its size is roughly the same as a watch. Surprisingly small, when it can transmit its signal nearly 100 metres, comes with an Ex approval, and have a battery lifetime of up to 5 years.

A safety system is more than just knowing the whereabouts of missing workers, and the Watcherseries software comes bundled with a range of features for the specific environments. With many years of experience in the industry, Wtek can provide an integrated solution that will further enhance the safety in any workplace.

Source: Ferret.com

Related Articles: Can RFID Stop Terrorism? | Tag, you're it: RFID lets boss track workers | EU Opens RFID Discussion to Public

It seems there are two significant hurdles that need to be overcome for RFID to be more successful. The first is the shortage of skilled professionals, and the second involves potential privacy concerns. A recent CompTIA survey reported that about 50 percent of the companies expect problems in finding educated and trained professionals to implement new RFID projects.

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The year is 2054. A fugitive walks into the Gap to buy some clothes for his companion. A retinal scanner reads his eyes upon entry, and a nearby holographic image says: "Hello, Mr. Yakimoto. Welcome back to the Gap. How'd those assorted tank tops work out for you?"

This is a scene from Minority Report starring Tom Cruise. It's science fiction. Or is it?

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A short video that explains the way in which RFID affects the transfer and distribution of goods.


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