Sunday, May 3, 2009
Week 2 Journal
This week marks the 2nd week of the lesson of the April Semester. We have attended the 3 case studies from locally and globally. For Singapore, it is the National Library and the Underwater World. For overseas, it is the one of the largest supermarket, Walmart.
According to the website from RFID journal, US is the 1st country who invented RFID. Mario W. Cardullo claims to have received the first U.S. patent for an active RFID tag with rewritable memory on January 23, 1973. That same year, Charles Walton, a California entrepreneur, received a patent for a passive transponder used to unlock a door without a key. A card with an embedded transponder communicated a signal to a reader near the door. When the reader detected a valid identity number stored within the RFID tag, the reader unlocked the door. Walton licensed the technology to Schlage, a lock maker, and other companies.
USA Flag
The question which many will ask. Why coporations like Walmart is so into RFID ? How about the other supermarkets or corporations ? According to what Mr Cheng has explained in his powerpoint slides, RFID helps companies to save EIGHT BILLION ! Just on barcodes, it can save 6.7 billion and the need to have people scan barcodes on pallets. The other remaining expenses includes out of stock situation, administrative error and vendor fraud, and the improved visibility of what products are in the supply chaion in its own distributor centers.
RFID Process Control
Is RFID only application to objects. The answer is no. It can also be used on humans and animals as well. In Underwater World Singapore, the RFID tag implanted in each fish will enable it to be sensed by antennas that are fitted on the front of the exhibition tank. When the fish swims within detectable range, the RFID tag sends a signal to the antenna, which then relays a signal to a touch screen computer. The computer will then display the name of the fish such as Tiny the Arapaima. Visitors will also be able to navigate through all the detailed information about the fish such as its origin, diet and characteristics by clicking on the appropriate icon on the computer screen.
Vistors in Underwater World Singapore
As a result, visitors can now visit the tourist attraction without a tour guide introducing. They can travel by themselves and understand more about fishes and species. Such technology is also in placed like in Taiwan National museum.