Field Technologies Featured Articles

  1. Could RFID Help Support Electronic Health Records? 8/6/2009
    Electronic health records EHRs would provide healthcare professionals with electronic access to an individual’s medical history, even when that history has been recorded by multiple providers. Therefore, the EHR system necessitates inter-operable communication of standardized data between hospitals and physicians. In our view, RFID could play a potential role in the development of these health records, particularly given the tight timeframe that needs to be followed. The Department of Health and Human Services needs to issue its Interim Final Rule by December 31, 2009 and legislative incentives begin in 2011. By Reik Read, Robert W. Baird & Co.
  2. RFID Improves Industrial Asset Tracking 8/3/2009
    Maintenance and repair operations face unique asset tracking challenges. Service technicians handle thousands of tools and pieces of equipment each day, from massive generators to tiny drill bits. By Brian Albright, Integrated Solutions magazine
  3. Low-Probability Of Intercept Of Ultra-Low-Power, Near-Field Signals 7/30/2009
    Long considered a technical backwater, low-power, near-field systems are emerging as the preferred solution for a variety of useful applications. These applications include short-range communication, radio frequency identification (RFID), and real-time locating systems (RTLS). This paper explores the ultralow-power and thus low-probability of intercept nature of near-field signals operating within the AM broadcast band under Part 15 constraints. By Hans G. Schantz, Q-Track Corporation
  4. Guest Column: Quarterly Survey Shows Improvement; Continued Interest In RFID 7/16/2009
    We again conducted our quarterly survey of automated data capture resellers, which included 89 participants in June. We saw a modest improvement in trend in June from our March survey, primarily from increased sales of parts and supplies, and from some smaller new projects moving forward. Reseller optimism improved as pipelines continue to build, particularly for warehouse, asset, and inventory management applications. By Reik Read, Robert W. Baird & Co.
  5. Quarterly Survey Shows Improvement; Continued Interest In RFID 7/16/2009
    We again conducted our quarterly survey of automated data capture resellers, which included 89 participants in June. We saw a modest improvement in trend in June from our March survey, primarily from increased sales of parts and supplies, and from some smaller new projects moving forward. Reseller optimism improved as pipelines continue to build, particularly for warehouse, asset, and inventory management applications. By Reik Read, Robert W. Baird & Co.
  6. Coca-Cola Leverages RFID To Help Manage New Product 6/24/2009
    Coca-Cola has introduced a new fountain dispenser, called Freestyle, which allows significantly more consumer choice at self-service stations, with 100 drink combinations versus between 6-12 choices with existing equipment. By Reik Read, Robert W. Baird & Co.
  7. Wireless Patient Tracking Can Help Halt Contagion, Including Swine Flu 6/18/2009
    As Orwellian as this sounds, the real-time location systems (RTLS) and RFID technology already used in hospitals and medical centers throughout the US can significantly reduce the spread of swine flu and other contagious diseases. Through the use of similar types of technologies that the FDA already recommends (and will likely mandate) for use in ePedigree requirements, hospitals can track patients, caregivers, equipment, and inventory to allow healthcare officials to know for certain who has, and has not, come in contact with a contagious person, and help contain epidemics. By Dann Anthony Maurno, Louis Sirico, and Jill Abell, RFIDWizards.com
  8. Guest Column: Wireless Patient Tracking Can Help Halt Contagion, Including Swine Flu 6/18/2009
    As Orwellian as this sounds, the real-time location systems (RTLS) and RFID technology already used in hospitals and medical centers throughout the US can significantly reduce the spread of swine flu and other contagious diseases. Through the use of similar types of technologies that the FDA already recommends (and will likely mandate) for use in ePedigree requirements, hospitals can track patients, caregivers, equipment, and inventory to allow healthcare officials to know for certain who has, and has not, come in contact with a contagious person, and help contain epidemics. By Dann Anthony Maurno, Louis Sirico, and Jill Abell, RFIDWizards.com
  9. RFind Systems & ISO 18000-7: Bringing RTLS To The 433MHz Band 6/18/2009
    This white paper discusses a proposed enhancement to the DASH7 specification that is being discussed among DASH7 Alliance members who are interested in adding real-time locating and Tag to Tag communications capabilities to the DASH7 specification.
  10. Reducing Mis-Shipments A Sizable RFID Opportunity 6/3/2009
    Back in September 2008, we wrote about Walgreen’s new distribution center and its use of RFID to reduce misshipments. More recently, we have written about Checkpoints Merchandise Visibility Solution, which provides automated visibility for apparel at the item level, and enables automated confirmation of shipped contents. This solution is being employed at European retailer Charles Vogele. We believe RFID solutions to reduce mis-shipments, or catch incorrect shipments early in the process, represents a sizeable market opportunity given the high cost of the problem, and the large volume of goods shipped through the supply chain. By Reik Read at Robert W. Baird & Co.