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Radio-Frequency Identification
I heard this in my Computer Information Systems Class. Radio-Frequency Identification, also known as "RFID," is a new system for inventory and check out purposes. Instead of using bar-codes, which are on almost everything we buy, a small chip which emits a signal can be attached to products. When you pass through either a door or checkout lane, or something to that effect, your entire cart is checked out by the computer, and nothing has to be scanned piece by piece. It even works from 4-5 feet away. It's also extremely helpful for inventory purposes in warehouses - making it easier to unload items and enter them into the system as being received. How cool is that?
I'm sure Tony will say something about how this is an invasion of his privacy in some way. Perhaps he doesn't want people in any official capacity to know he just purchase Rocco Love Jenna.
RFID technology is indeed very cool. Unfotunately, like most cool tech. it has the potential for abuse. The same technology that allows you to check out without taking items out of your cart could easily be used to store the identifying info of the person who bought the item...
Imagine if such tags were embedded into our clothes with our names and addresses, so that after we leave the supermarket, Schnucks can send us ads for the same types of products we've purchased...
There are other, more insidious ways of using this technology. I'll do some research, and post more details once I can present some actual facts...
Meanwhile, check out the Wikipedia article on RFID technology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rfid
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