Do You Know What RFID is?

Yes, Do you know what RFID is? If your reply was a resounding NO! Then you would not be along. In fact the majority of the population would have had the same response.

When you think about it, the fact that very few people know what RFID is, is quite astounding. Particularly when RFID technologies are used in an enormous number of our daily activities, and disturbingly we have no idea they are even there. Least the effects they may be having on the live of all of us.

What is Radio-frequency Identification?

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless use of electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags (RF tags) attached to objects. The tags (microchips) contain electronically stored information.
Some tags are powered by electromagnetic induction from magnetic fields produced near the reader. Some types collect energy from the interrogating radio waves and act as a passive transponder. Other types have a local power source such as a battery and may operate at hundreds of meters from the reader. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is one method for Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC).

RFID Technology

In layman’s terms RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a wireless identification system that utilizes radio frequency (RF) waves for identity transmission of a person or object. RFID microchip devices carry embedded information about the person or the objects.

RFID is Similar to Barcodes

RFID chips are very similar to barcodes in the sense that a certain amount of data is contained within them, and then transmitted to a reading device which then processes and utilizes the information.

The major difference is that barcodes have to be physically visible to the reading device, which is usually only able to scan them at a distance of 12 inches or less. RFID chip, on the other hand, do not have to be visible to the reading device. They can be scanned through clothes, wallets, and even cars. The distance from which they can be read is also much greater than that of a barcode. An RFID chip can be scanned at a distance of hundreds of feet depending on the nature of the microchip.

The most common types of RFID chips are the “passive” type. Passive RFID chips contain no internal power supply. Instead, they contain an internal antenna which is able to have a current induced in it when within range of the RFID reader. The RFID device then uses that electricity to power the internal chip, which bounces its data back out through the antenna, where it will be picked up by the reader.

Upcoming Article:

Look out for our next article in this RFID series – “How does RFID Work?” You will find it informative and fascinating reading. So don’t miss it! Click HERE to read this article.

RFID

Protect yourself from malicious scamming of your micro chip smartcard device.

Image: ne vous lassez pas seduire (barcode) by Chiara Marra