Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) in the Retail Marketplace
What Canadian Consumers Need to Know
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RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification — a technology whose use is growing fast, and which has major implications for consumers, particularly with regard to privacy.
What is RFID technology?
Photo of Radio Frequency Identification tag
As its name implies, RFID is an ID-identification-system. It relies on a small chip that is implanted in a tag. The chip can record and store data, such as a serial number, price or purchase record. The tag can be attached to all sorts of things: merchandise, shipping containers, vehicles, even pet or animal collars. Then, an electronic scanner can use radio signals to read or track the ID tag.
For example, a warehouse worker might use a hand-held RFID reader to check inventory. The data on the tags scanned might only be numbers, but once scanned, the numbers can be checked against a computer database, and the company will know exactly what it has on hand.
RFID technology was created during the Second World War to identify friendly aircraft, but it is only recently that its use has been commercialized — and has virtually exploded in popularity. Chances are that you have already encountered quite a few RFID-enabled products. These might include:
car keys with an anti-theft chip, that need a valid code to start your car;
automated highway tollbooths that can automatically read transponders installed in the vehicles of frequent users (these are in use on Toronto's Highway 407); and
the Speedpass (TM) keychain, which automatically debits your bank account or credit card when you pump your own gas.
It is important for consumers to know about RFID, particularly because it is the technology used by the Electronic Product Code (EPC) system. EPC is replacing bar codes, those parallel bars and spaces found on products and price tags, which are scanned at a store's cash register.
What is the difference between a traditional bar code and an RFID/EPC tag?
While their basic uses are similar, there are some important differences between the old and the emerging product code systems:
Item rather than product-level tagging. Because RFID/EPC tags have a computer chip with its own electronic memory, each tag can have its own individual identification code-this is beyond the capacity of the traditional printed bar code symbol. Thus, RFID/EPC tags can separately identify and track every individual item. Bar codes, on the other hand, can only identify the product class that an item belongs to. For example, a stack of DVD players sitting on a store shelf could all be the same model, in the same kind of box, and sell at the same price. At present, they would all have the same bar code printed on their boxes or labels; this would indicate merely that they were all the same type of DVD player. In the near future, each could have its own unique RFID/EPC tag, and carry an individual identity code. The store will accordingly be able to track exactly which DVD player is where.
Increased scanning power. Traditional bar code technology uses a light-based reader that must shine directly on a tag to be read by the scanner. Because RFID technology uses radio waves, the tag's signal simply has to be within a certain distance, for the reader to make the scan-and reader and tag do not have to make an individualized connection. This means that:
More than one RFID/EPC tag can be read at the same time;
The reading can be done even if the tag is inside a box or implanted into a product; and
The reader can be fixed to a wall, since it does not have to be in direct line of sight with, and "see," a specific tag. Therefore one strategically located reader could replace several, even many, old-style bar code scanners.
Not all retail tags are RFID-based
Not all electronic tags on retail goods are RFID/EPC tags. They may instead be radio frequency (RF) security tags. RF security tags do not have a unique identification number, and do not store data or allow linkages to other databases. These use radio signals to send a code to the store’s security system, and trigger an alarm when a product leaves the premises without the tag having been deactivated.
How is RFID now being used in retail?
At present, RFID tags and systems are relatively costly, and are not yet found on inexpensive items. However, some interesting retail pilot projects are already under way:
Continuous "live" store inventory. Retailers can gain real-time detailed information on their stock through an on-going automatic scan system in warehouses and stores. This is much more efficient than having an employee manually check inventory on shelves, and could eventually cut costs and improve consumers' experiences in stores, through better stocking and supplies.
Simultaneous "one shot" scanning of goods at the cash. For example, everything in a consumer's grocery cart can be scanned all at once, while still in the cart-no need to remove items for check-out. This could speed things up at the grocery store.
Other uses
Use of RFID isn't limited to the retail sector. The pharmaceutical industry is already exploring how RFID tags could help identify counterfeit, and potentially harmful, drugs. Some have suggested that RFID monitoring of seniors' nutrition habits or use of appliances could make it easier for people to keep living in their own homes, instead of moving to care facilities before they actually need to. Airports may also find a use for RFID tags, to automatically detect luggage loading errors before bags go astray. Further investigation is required before any of these uses could actually become common.
RF emissions and your safety
According to the European Commission, RFIDs are relatively low powered, compared to other wireless applications such as cellphones, broadcast media, and radar. Thus RFIDs may pose a lower level of risk to health than most other common wireless devices. With respect to consumer products, harmful health effects that may result from exposure to wireless magnetic fields have not been documented at this point, however controversy exists in this field.
How could RFID affect privacy?
RFID technology poses some challenges for consumers.
RFID tags can be very small, and the reader can be located where you can't see it. This can make it hard for a consumer to even know that RFID is being used by a store.
When you do find an RFID tag on your purchase, you can't tell by looking at it whether the tag is still communicating its data, or has been turned off. It is theoretically possible that a tag can continue to be read, even after a product is paid for and taken from the store.
An RFID tag used for inventory control might only contain information about the product concerned. However, the potential exists for a computer system to link this product data with personal information, as it is collected with every swipe of a credit, debit or loyalty card. RFID technology could make possible the creation of a detailed profile of an individual consumer's buying habits.
RFID is a new and unfamiliar technology, and it is understandable that consumers might have questions about it, or be to a certain degree uncomfortable with it. Consumers should not hesitate to ask for more information and clear explanations from retailers who use the technology.
Some questions you might want to ask if you encounter an RFID tag
What information is stored on the tag? What is the tag linked to? What is the company using the tag for?
Is the tag still activated, and who can read it? How can I determine precisely when and how it is turned off?
If the tag contains, or can be linked to, my personal information, what measures do you have in place to secure my privacy? And why do you need to have my personal information on a database?
What is being done to protect my privacy?
Your privacy rights are protected by Canada's privacy legislation, which will apply to any future RFID applications that hold or become linked with personal information.
Under the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), there are ground rules that govern how organizations may collect, use or disclose personal information gained in the course of commercial activities. Those living in Québec, Alberta and British Columbia can also refer to their jurisdiction's provincial personal information Act.
Ongoing discussions are also taking place, in Canada and internationally, about technological standards for RFID tags and systems; such standards could offer further protections for consumer privacy.
Adopted in January 2005, Canadian EPC voluntary public policy guidelines have several rules for businesses that use RFID/EPC tags on consumer products. The guidelines include the following:
Consumers should be told when EPC/RFID technology is being used;
Consumers should have the choice of allowing the tag to remain activated, or of turning off and disposing of the tag after purchase; and
Consumers should have control over the information that the store's computer system retains about them.
Logo that must appear on product and packaging using EPC tags
Electronic Product Code label in black Electronic Product Code label in color
Black and White and Color Version
Source: GS1 Canada
As the use of RFID technology expands, so will consumers' questions about it. This article has been an introductory overview only — Canadians should keep asking for further information from governments, consumer organizations, and businesses.
For further information, start by having a look at the following websites.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Guidelines for EPC on Consumer Products
Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs encourages you to be an informed consumer!
Help us improveDate modified:2009-01-26
ระบุความถี่วิทยุ (RFID) ในตลาดขายปลีกสิ่งที่ผู้บริโภคชาวแคนาดาต้องการรู้รุ่น PDF(115 KB หน้า 5)อ่านไฟล์ PDFRFID ย่อมาจากสำหรับการระบุคลื่นความถี่วิทยุซึ่งเทคโนโลยีที่ใช้มีการเติบโตอย่างรวดเร็ว และซึ่งมีนัยสำคัญสำหรับผู้บริโภค โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งเกี่ยวกับความเป็นส่วนตัวเทคโนโลยี RFID คืออะไรถ่ายป้ายรหัสคลื่นความถี่วิทยุตามความหมายของชื่อ RFID เป็น ID-รหัสระบบ มันใช้ชิเล็ก implanted ในแท็ก ชิพสามารถบันทึก และจัดเก็บข้อมูล เช่นหมายเลขประจำสินค้า ราคา หรือซื้อคอร์ด สามารถแนบป้ายทุกสิ่ง: สินค้า จัดส่งบรรจุภัณฑ์ ยานพาหนะ แม้แต่สัตว์เลี้ยง หรือสัตว์ collars แล้ว สแกนเนอร์เป็นอิเล็กทรอนิกส์สามารถใช้สัญญาณวิทยุในการอ่าน หรือติดตามแท็ก IDตัวอย่าง ผู้ปฏิบัติงานคลังสินค้าอาจใช้ตัวอ่าน RFID มือถือเพื่อตรวจสอบสินค้าคงคลัง ข้อมูลที่อยู่ในแท็กสแกนเฉพาะอาจหมายเลข แต่เมื่อสแกน หมายเลขสามารถตรวจสอบกับฐานข้อมูลคอมพิวเตอร์ และบริษัทจะรู้ว่าสิ่งนั้นมีเทคโนโลยี RFID ถูกสร้างในระหว่างสงครามโลกที่สองเพื่อระบุเครื่องบินที่ดี แต่ก็เท่านั้นเพิ่งมีการ commercialized การใช้ — และมีกระจายแทบประเทศ มีโอกาสในการที่คุณได้พบผลิตภัณฑ์ RFID ใช้งานค่อนข้างน้อย เหล่านี้อาจรวมถึง:กุญแจรถยนต์ มีการขโมยชิ ที่ต้องการรหัสถูกต้องเริ่มต้นรถของคุณtollbooths ทางหลวงโดยอัตโนมัติซึ่งสามารถอ่านได้โดยอัตโนมัติโดยดาวเทียมที่ติดตั้งในยานพาหนะของผู้ใช้บ่อย (เหล่านี้จะใช้ในโตรอนโตของทางหลวงหมายเลข 407); และSpeedpass (TM) พวงกุญแจ ที่อัตโนมัติเดบิตบัญชีธนาคารหรือบัตรเครดิตของคุณเมื่อคุณปั๊มแก๊สของคุณเองมันเป็นสิ่งสำคัญสำหรับผู้บริโภคที่เกี่ยวกับ RFID โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งเนื่องจากเป็นเทคโนโลยีที่ใช้ โดยระบบรหัสสินค้าอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ (EPC) EPC จะแทนบาร์โค้ด แถบขนาน และช่องว่างที่พบในผลิตภัณฑ์และแท็กราคา ที่สแกนที่เครื่องบันทึกเงินสดของร้านค้าเหล่านั้นความแตกต่างระหว่างบาร์โค้ดแบบดั้งเดิมและมีป้าย RFID/EPC คืออะไรขณะที่การใช้พื้นฐานคล้ายกัน มีความแตกต่างสำคัญระหว่างเก่าและระบบรหัสผลิตภัณฑ์เกิดขึ้น:สินค้ามากกว่าระดับผลิตภัณฑ์ติดป้าย เพราะชิปคอมพิวเตอร์ มีหน่วยความจำของตนเองทางอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ RFID/EPC tags แท็กแต่ละได้แต่ละตัวเองรหัสรหัสนี้จะอยู่นอกเหนือกำลังของสัญลักษณ์บาร์โค้ดพิมพ์ดั้งเดิมได้ ดัง RFID/EPC แท็กสามารถแยกระบุ และติดตามทุกสินค้าแต่ละรายการ บาร์โค้ด คง เฉพาะสามารถระดับผลิตภัณฑ์ที่เป็นสินค้า ตัวอย่าง กองซ้อนของเครื่องเล่นดีวีดีที่นั่งอยู่บนชั้นวางเก็บอาจจะรุ่นเดียวกัน ในกล่อง ชนิดเดียวกัน และขายในราคาเดียวกัน ปัจจุบัน พวกเขาทั้งหมดต้องบาร์โค้ดเดียวกันที่พิมพ์บนกล่องหรือป้ายชื่อ ของพวกเขา นี้จะระบุเพียงว่า พวกเขามีชนิดเดียวกันทั้งหมดของเครื่องเล่น DVD ในอนาคตอันใกล้ แต่ละอาจมีป้าย RFID/EPC เฉพาะของตนเอง และดำเนินรหัสแต่ละ ร้านค้าตามจะได้ติดตามว่าเครื่องเล่น DVD ที่เป็นเพิ่มพลังงานแกน เทคโนโลยีบาร์โค้ดแบบใช้เครื่องอ่านที่ใช้ไฟที่ต้องส่องบนแท็กเพื่ออ่านสแกนเนอร์ เนื่องจากเทคโนโลยี RFID ใช้คลื่นวิทยุ สัญญาณของแท็กมีแต่ไปบางระยะไกล สำหรับผู้อ่านเพื่อให้การสแกน- และแท็กและตัวอ่านไม่จำเป็นต้องสร้างการเชื่อมต่อเป็นรายบุคคล นี้หมายความ ว่า:มากกว่าหนึ่งป้าย RFID/EPC สามารถอ่านได้ในเวลาเดียวกันการอ่านสามารถทำได้แม้ว่าแท็กอยู่ภายในกล่อง หรือ implanted ในผลิตภัณฑ์ และThe reader can be fixed to a wall, since it does not have to be in direct line of sight with, and "see," a specific tag. Therefore one strategically located reader could replace several, even many, old-style bar code scanners.Not all retail tags are RFID-basedNot all electronic tags on retail goods are RFID/EPC tags. They may instead be radio frequency (RF) security tags. RF security tags do not have a unique identification number, and do not store data or allow linkages to other databases. These use radio signals to send a code to the store’s security system, and trigger an alarm when a product leaves the premises without the tag having been deactivated.How is RFID now being used in retail?At present, RFID tags and systems are relatively costly, and are not yet found on inexpensive items. However, some interesting retail pilot projects are already under way:Continuous "live" store inventory. Retailers can gain real-time detailed information on their stock through an on-going automatic scan system in warehouses and stores. This is much more efficient than having an employee manually check inventory on shelves, and could eventually cut costs and improve consumers' experiences in stores, through better stocking and supplies.Simultaneous "one shot" scanning of goods at the cash. For example, everything in a consumer's grocery cart can be scanned all at once, while still in the cart-no need to remove items for check-out. This could speed things up at the grocery store.Other usesUse of RFID isn't limited to the retail sector. The pharmaceutical industry is already exploring how RFID tags could help identify counterfeit, and potentially harmful, drugs. Some have suggested that RFID monitoring of seniors' nutrition habits or use of appliances could make it easier for people to keep living in their own homes, instead of moving to care facilities before they actually need to. Airports may also find a use for RFID tags, to automatically detect luggage loading errors before bags go astray. Further investigation is required before any of these uses could actually become common.RF emissions and your safetyAccording to the European Commission, RFIDs are relatively low powered, compared to other wireless applications such as cellphones, broadcast media, and radar. Thus RFIDs may pose a lower level of risk to health than most other common wireless devices. With respect to consumer products, harmful health effects that may result from exposure to wireless magnetic fields have not been documented at this point, however controversy exists in this field.How could RFID affect privacy?RFID technology poses some challenges for consumers.RFID tags can be very small, and the reader can be located where you can't see it. This can make it hard for a consumer to even know that RFID is being used by a store.When you do find an RFID tag on your purchase, you can't tell by looking at it whether the tag is still communicating its data, or has been turned off. It is theoretically possible that a tag can continue to be read, even after a product is paid for and taken from the store.
An RFID tag used for inventory control might only contain information about the product concerned. However, the potential exists for a computer system to link this product data with personal information, as it is collected with every swipe of a credit, debit or loyalty card. RFID technology could make possible the creation of a detailed profile of an individual consumer's buying habits.
RFID is a new and unfamiliar technology, and it is understandable that consumers might have questions about it, or be to a certain degree uncomfortable with it. Consumers should not hesitate to ask for more information and clear explanations from retailers who use the technology.
Some questions you might want to ask if you encounter an RFID tag
What information is stored on the tag? What is the tag linked to? What is the company using the tag for?
Is the tag still activated, and who can read it? How can I determine precisely when and how it is turned off?
If the tag contains, or can be linked to, my personal information, what measures do you have in place to secure my privacy? And why do you need to have my personal information on a database?
What is being done to protect my privacy?
Your privacy rights are protected by Canada's privacy legislation, which will apply to any future RFID applications that hold or become linked with personal information.
Under the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), there are ground rules that govern how organizations may collect, use or disclose personal information gained in the course of commercial activities. Those living in Québec, Alberta and British Columbia can also refer to their jurisdiction's provincial personal information Act.
Ongoing discussions are also taking place, in Canada and internationally, about technological standards for RFID tags and systems; such standards could offer further protections for consumer privacy.
Adopted in January 2005, Canadian EPC voluntary public policy guidelines have several rules for businesses that use RFID/EPC tags on consumer products. The guidelines include the following:
Consumers should be told when EPC/RFID technology is being used;
Consumers should have the choice of allowing the tag to remain activated, or of turning off and disposing of the tag after purchase; and
Consumers should have control over the information that the store's computer system retains about them.
Logo that must appear on product and packaging using EPC tags
Electronic Product Code label in black Electronic Product Code label in color
Black and White and Color Version
Source: GS1 Canada
As the use of RFID technology expands, so will consumers' questions about it. This article has been an introductory overview only — Canadians should keep asking for further information from governments, consumer organizations, and businesses.
For further information, start by having a look at the following websites.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Guidelines for EPC on Consumer Products
Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs encourages you to be an informed consumer!
Help us improveDate modified:2009-01-26
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