[LINK] RFID in Govt, and in People
Kim Holburn
kim at holburn.net
Tue Oct 3 15:45:29 AEST 2006
I'm sorry, this doesn't make sense to me. If you are talking about a
non-changing magnetic field then it can't transmit energy to a remote
device (however close the device is).
If you are talking about a changing magnetic field then you are
talking about an electromagnetic field. Any kind of moving magnetic
field / electromagnetic field can be subject to beam forming.
Just because no-one has done it yet, that you know of, doesn't mean
it can't be done.
On 2006 Oct 03, at 1:24 PM, Geoff Ramadan wrote:
> RFID/Inductive coupling does not propogate waves. It uses magnetic
> coupling, so it is a closed loop. i.e. it is not like a radio
> transmitter, its like a transformer.
>
>
> Kim Holburn wrote:
>> On 2006 Oct 03, at 1:09 PM, Geoff Ramadan wrote:
>>> On my brief skimming, the articles make no mention of "magnetic"
>>> beam forming. They are all referring to "beam-forming" in the
>>> "far-field" EM waves or "wave cancellation".
>> The last link was about audio beam forming; beam forming can be
>> done with any wave forms.
>>> Library RFID systems use 13.56Mhz RFID technology. "Near-Field"
>>> or "inductive technology".
>>>
>>> I don't know how how this translates.
>>>
>>> A traditional "magnetic" beam-former would need to use some form
>>> of "magnetic conductive" medium like ferrites, (the stuff that
>>> transformers and inductors use).
>> I assume RFID tags are powered by some kind of low frequency
>> electromagnetic waves? You would just need a grid of things to
>> produce a moving magnetic field like say electromagnets and
>> software of course.
>>>
>>> Reg
>>> Geoffrey Ramadan
>>>
>>>
>>> Kim Holburn wrote:
>>>> On 2006 Oct 03, at 12:36 PM, Geoff Ramadan wrote:
>>>>> Kim
>>>>>
>>>>> Libraries are already using RFID for books and security. Though
>>>>> not in the way you described. A reader is either at the Counter
>>>>> or is in a "self check-out" systems.
>>>>> check out.
>>>>> http://www.dalibtech.com/
>>>>> http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/Libraries/Structure/About/
>>>>> TheCentre.aspx
>>>>>
>>>>> I assume you are joking about the clandestine reading?
>>>> Not really, a flight of fancy more like. With a directed
>>>> magnetic beam former and an rfid reader it wouldn't be too hard.
>>>> It's hard to find non-technical stuff on beam-formers:
>>>> http://www.embedded.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60401726
>>>> http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990IPRSP.137..267Y
>>>> http://www.innovative-dsp.com/products/ancapp.htm
>>>>>
>>>>> Reg
>>>>> Geoffrey Ramadan
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Kim Holburn wrote:
>>>>>> I have thought for a while that Libraries would be a great
>>>>>> use. for RFID A reader at the door would mean you would just
>>>>>> have to walk out with the books and the library could
>>>>>> automatically check them out to you! Also staff could locate
>>>>>> a miscatalogued book much more easily than now.
>>>>>> On the other hand, for privacy reasons maybe it wouldn't be
>>>>>> such a good idea!!! I clandestine reader at the door could
>>>>>> tell someone what you were reading - but then a government
>>>>>> organisation wanting that info could look up the database
>>>>>> anyway and I seem to remember a bill that allows ASIO to hack
>>>>>> into databases and read and change data legally.
>>>>>> On 2006 Oct 03, at 11:13 AM, Geoff Ramadan wrote:
>>>>>>> Roger
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Most RFID inquiries our industry get (including us) are crap.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Most people have no real understanding of RFID and their
>>>>>>> applications, and even less understanding of the limitations,
>>>>>>> including Government Departments.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We generally find that solutions to customer issues can be
>>>>>>> found in other technology means, including barcoding or
>>>>>>> process changes.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I can quote you one example where a Government department
>>>>>>> wanted to RFID tag documents, thinking that they could wave a
>>>>>>> magic wand and locate them. What they really needed was a
>>>>>>> process change, as their work practices were extremely sloppy
>>>>>>> with no accountability.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> However, there is a growing interest and applications in "non-
>>>>>>> human" asset management as indicated in the article.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There is a strong trend towards active RFID tags for
>>>>>>> "location based tracking" of assets. Hospitals and Mining
>>>>>>> being an excellent example of this type of applications. The
>>>>>>> assets are expensive (eg. Medical devices) which are very
>>>>>>> mobile and need to be located efficiently, therefore gaining
>>>>>>> better utilisation and lowering capital costs, while
>>>>>>> improving services.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In Government departments I suspect there is an interest in
>>>>>>> asset tracking of notebooks.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Geoffrey Ramadan, B.E.(Elec)
>>>>>>> Chairman, Automatic Data Capture Australia (www.adca.com.au
>>>>>>> <http://www.adca.com.au>)
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> Managing Director, Unique Micro Design (www.umd.com.au
>>>>>>> <http://www.umd.com.au>)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Roger Clarke wrote:
>>>>>>>> SMH/Age Next Section
>>>>>>>> 3 October 2006
>>>>>>>> Not so smart
>>>>>>>> Almost a third of Australian government agencies have set
>>>>>>>> aside money for RFID-related projects, despite knowing
>>>>>>>> little about the technology, a new survey has found.
>>>>>>>> RFID is the short-range wireless technology used in
>>>>>>>> 'contactless' smartcards and e-passports.
>>>>>>>> Consultants Booz Allen Hamilton interviewed people in 28
>>>>>>>> Canberra-based government departments. Fewer than 10% had a
>>>>>>>> good understanding of RFID standards, although money had
>>>>>>>> been allocated for RFID projects. Three-quarters of
>>>>>>>> respondents plan to investigate or use RFID within the next
>>>>>>>> three years.
>>>>>>>> [The local Booz site, which uses the suitably sceptical
>>>>>>>> domain-name 'bah', doesn't seem to provide any information
>>>>>>>> on the matter:
>>>>>>>> http://www.bah.com.au/Whats_New/press_releases.htm
>>>>>>>> [If anyone has any knowledge about what BAH thinks the 21
>>>>>>>> departments think they plan on doing with RFID, a posting to
>>>>>>>> the list, or an off-list note to me, would be appreciated.
>>>>>>>> There are a few potential applications, e.g. in Defence
>>>>>>>> Materiel; but most agencies don't actually do the kinds of
>>>>>>>> physical things any more that RFID is potentially useful for]
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>> ___________ In addition, the part of the Oz IT Section that
>>>>>>>> operates purely as a relay for Media Releases (IT Business)
>>>>>>>> has a breathless piece on RFID today.
>>>>>>>> Fast track for radio tags
>>>>>>>> Ben Woodhead
>>>>>>>> Australian IT Section
>>>>>>>> OCTOBER 03, 2006
>>>>>>>> http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20500547%
>>>>>>>> 5E15302%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html AUSTRALIAN businesses are
>>>>>>>> attaching radio frequency identification tags to sheep,
>>>>>>>> trains, heavy mining equipment and nurses as they take
>>>>>>>> advantage of the technology's ability to track assets and
>>>>>>>> people.
>>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>> [The report is completely lacking in scepticism. That the
>>>>>>>> reporter is prepared to have his name on it is a testament
>>>>>>>> to how little self-respect many journos have these days.
>>>>>>>> Although I'd better allow for the possibility that
>>>>>>>> 'Woodhead' is a pseudonym, intended to convey that the
>>>>>>>> reporter thinks the same about this kind of rubbish as the
>>>>>>>> rest of us do.
>>>>>>>> [Especially noticeable is the equivalent treatment of people
>>>>>>>> and things. There's no distinction at all drawn between
>>>>>>>> tracking and controlling gamblers, nurses and prisoners and
>>>>>>>> doing the same thing to sheep, cattle, and mining and
>>>>>>>> hospital equipment]
>> --
--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
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