The Technology Is A Dream For Some, A Nightmare For Others
RFID (radio frequency identification) sounds ominous. Civil-libertarian watchdogs and fear mongers, including those in the press, play up the scary angle: Big Brother tracking our every move via RFID chips on our bags, in our clothes, or, most chilling, implanted in our bodies. Scanners and tag readers everywhere. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

RFID is a tracking system, whether of people or products. Proponents of RFID focus on its ability to track products and shoppers alike, bringing them together in a synchronous, harmonious shopping experience. The supermarket card you use every week keeps track of everything you purchase, and the store manager can make sure his shelves are stocked with everything you want.

RFID is not a new, immature technology. It has been in various states of development and use for decades but has hit its stride only in the past few years. The Defense Department uses RFID extensively, and WalMart mandated the technology into its inventory system. More recently, RFID has entered into the consciousness of the tech-aware layperson.

Most people working up and down the supply chain acknowledge the benefits of RFID, and the supply chain is the example that RFID backers use to extol the technology’s benefits. But acceptance and implementation are, as with any technology, a matter of cost vs. benefit or ROI (return on investment). And for most businesses, the cost/benefit curve doesn’t yet swing in favor of implementation.

Source:pctoday.com