OUR RESPONSE TO THE QUERIES

OUR HEARTIEST THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR RAISING QUESTIONS AND CRITICS ON OUR PRESENTATION. YOUR QUERIES TESTED OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUBJECT AND MADE US EXPLORE THE SUBJECT WITH A FRESH PERSPECTIVE. THANKS FOR MAKING THE EXPERIENCE ENRICHING

QUERY	ANSWER
DIGITAL CONVERGENCE GROUP
With almost everything being tagged, does it not pose a health risk due to exposure to radio frequency waves	Yes, there are health hazards developed from overexposure to radio-waves. On the contrary we would ask you to consider and weight the hazard against Cell phone and Microwaves, which are much stronger and more hazardous. Radio waves are always around us, in the form of radio transmissions. We assume you have raised the question of health of people working inside the warehouses where this technology is being predominantly used. HAZARDS   OF   ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION   TO PERSONNEL (HERP) The Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel (HERP) Program was developed to protect personnel from RF electromagnetic radiation. Wherever radar or a transmitter is operating, there is a danger that the RF electromagnetic fields may produce harmful biological effects in humans exposed to them. The following subsections identify the typical hazards and the steps you can take to minimize those hazards. RADIO-FREQUENCY    HAZARDS Radio-frequency   (RF)   hazards   to   personnel   are caused by overexposure to RF energy. As  a  Fire  Control man,  you  should  refer  to  NAVSEA  OP  3565,volume   I,   to   understand   the   biological   hazard   levels for   exposure   to   RF   radiation,   as   established   by   the Bureau  of  Medicine  and  Surgery. SAFE  LIMITS Safe  limits  are  based  on  the power  density  of  the  radiation  beam  and  the  exposure time   of   the   human   body.   Table   3-2   (an   example   of tables  in  NAVSEA  OP  3565,  volume  I)  identifies  the safe  limits  associated  with  common  electronics  equipment. For more in depth details of the norms on the directives please visit http://www.tscm.com/radhaz.pdf
GROUP 12
RFID doesn’t work around metal and water. Does that mean we can’t use it to track cans or liquid products	For all major errors and limitations regarding RFID Kindly refer to our post http://rfid-managerialviewpoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/factors-affecting-read-rates-of-rfid.html
How do I know which frequency is right for me	The spectrum in which RFID works has been upgraded from Gen-1 to Gen-2. In Gen-1 869.4 to 869.6 MHz was allocated to RFID devices, now an additional band of 865 to 868 MHz has been added under Gen-2. Using RFID means that you will be operating it inside the warehouse or some other inventory stocking facility. Frequency used does not vary with materials or other factors; you just have to use same frequency in your full process chain.
Is RFID better than using barcodes	RFID Smart Tags gave certain advantages over barcodes 1.      On demand printing and application flexibility is maintained 2.      Labelling is done at appropriate points in the packaging/shipping process 3.      RFID integration fits within the small footprint of a smart label printer 4.      Both automated and operator assisted application methods are available 5.      Tag encoding is done predictably and reliably, without custom engineering 6.      Validation and error recovery is built into the system 7.      Encoding and printing commands share an established host computer to shop floor network 8.      Systems migration and integration can be simplified using conversion tool and software modules from multiple middleware and supply chain execution system suppliers, so you don’t have to rewrite applications
WEB 2.0 GROUP
How reliable is RFID? What will happen if RFID reader malfunctions and enters data incorrectly	To be conservative on this issue we would say RFID 99.99% reliable. If you intended to ask what the possible shortcomings in RFID are, for that we have written an article to facilitate queries of groups related to this issue. READER does not enter data incorrectly, until unless the tag was ARMED incorrectly or there is some software malfunction in the process of data reading. For details regarding errors that creep in RFID tags please refer to our post http://rfid-managerialviewpoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/factors-affecting-read-rates-of-rfid.html
GREEN I.T.
Can you use RFID tags in any way at home? How easy is it to dismantle RFID tags? Does it lead to breach of security	Using RFID on micro level is a bit farfetched idea as of now, considering huge costs incurred in getting the system in place and absence of any cheap system in the offing. If you want to maintain your grocery at home, until unless you are maintaining a palace we don’t think using RFID at home will be a good idea. Why we say it is not a good idea is because of a few reasons. If you want to tag and maintain daily use items you will be incurring huge costs. Other than consumables we don’t think RFID will be used on stationery items, if you want to maintain a record of dates of purchase, maintenance due and post sale dates etc, simple computer software will do the job. Dismantling RFID tags is as easy tearing away a paper. Breach of Security??? If we happen to roam around your home with a very strong reader that matches the frequency and comply with the specification of the tags used in your home, we can get the CRITICAL data of GROCERY in your house and can be your guests that evening.
SOA
“Risk of non-compliance to RFID”, Wal-Mart’s clout and effects on small companies	Wal-Mart, Department of Defence U.S., and other companies which started this trend of RFID pressed for RFID because they were maintaining huge levels of inventory. Secondly they asked for products supplied to them to be RFID tagged, it was not a universal binding contract. In an interview the CIO of Wal-Mart shared an incident where it took almost 3 days to locate the shelf of a certain low moving product. The product was off the shelf due to uncertain demand peak and sales team had no idea where the product should be kept when periodic supply came. Small companies don’t maintain that high volume of inventory, so they don’t need RFID tagged supplies, thus they can ask for simple barcoded supply, not an issue I believe. But if we weight the condition on the grounds that these giants got their arsenal heavier with the use of RFID and will create problem for small customers, yes that’s true. There’s tons of hate blogs about Wal-Mart on the net, go ahead and read them. Take the links from us, but offline!!!
UID
How is RFID integrated with ERP? How does this integration result in cost saving	RFID appears as an extension tool in ERP software. To make it easier to appreciate  RFID + ERP = VISIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN All the benefits of ERP get enhanced with the availability of real time tracking of materials in inventory and supply chain. Forecasting and inventory control becomes more effective. For more information on advantages of ERP, kindly visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_resource_planning#Advantages
OPEN SOURCE MOVEMENT
Can you give instances of malfunctioning? Is malfunctioning possible? What will be the effects?	As far as we have studies MALFUNCTIONING hasn’t been an issue ever. If we understood the question correctly you wanted to know if readers read incorrectly what will happen then. This might happen if the readers are not calibrated properly, in such a case the system will detect the error and the reader can be corrected. Malfunctioning on the software part is possible, that again cannot be accounted as an malfunctioning on the part of RFID. Not errors but interferences are possible in data transmission and this does not qualify as a malfunction For more on limitations of RFID please visit our post http://rfid-managerialviewpoint.blogspot.com/2011/02/factors-affecting-read-rates-of-rfid.html
GROUP 1
What if someone else is using the vehicle illegally to fill up the tank? The RFID will detect the person who actually purchased the truck but not the thief. How to tackle? Tell something about security issues?	When we analysed fuel dispensing it was in the case of large truck fleet owners having their own fuel dispensing machines. If a truck is stolen or illegally being taken away from the driver and the thief happens to bring the truck to fuel dispenser it may become a blessing in disguise for us, under the premise that driver was proactive in reporting the issue to the central system. You have created a typical case of theft, so we will try to provide a typical solution to it also. When we will be operating large fleet we will be having information of the schedule of trucks plying on road and those parked in the garage of company. If the truck is supposed to be parked at the instant it approaches the fuel dispenser, the central server can raise an alert. If the truck is stolen from the driver it is most unlikely that the thief will bring the truck inside the company premises. If the thief happens to bring the truck to the fuel dispenser, the driver SHOULD have informed the company about the theft and the information can be shared on the database. We can have a second layer of security also, whenever the truck approaches fuel dispenser, the system will generate high level security key, which will be sent to responsible driver’s mobile, this security needs to be entered for pump to start. Now let us consider the mobile is stolen, and the thief left driver unconscious by beating him. The driver couldn’t inform of theft and the thief got the high level security key, and the truck was also supposed to be there for fuel filling, i.e. there is no anomaly in the system that can tell the dispenser there is some issue. We would like to defect from the discussion by saying this is not an issue with RFID anymore but an issue with the security service in the company. In fact RFID has given a gift in disguise by giving us the latest and most reliable location last location of truck before getting stolen. Above mentioned case was for company operated fuel dispenser, if such a  case happens at public fuel dispenser. 1.      The automobile should be registered to enable fuel dispensing 2.      The bank client software will generate security key 3.      Money transaction will happen through a password, given by back itself. IF WE HAPPEN TO EVOLVE SUCH A CASE, WE CONCLUDE  THAT HUMAN INTELLECT IN BREACHING RULES SURPASSES THE FANCIES OF TECHNOLOGIES
GROUP 7
RFID emits radio wave. So does it not require any hardware to do so? Because in airline baggage there is no hardware it just seems as barcode	Passive Tags as seen on our library books act just like a reflector of radio waves, reader emits signal and records the reply, so it doesn’t require battery as the required power is generated by the chip when it receives the signal. You haven’t seen RFID tags in airlines possibly because you haven’t travelled to any RFID enabled airport yet, this technology is still not started in Indian airports.
Cost of RFID tags and printer	Cost depends on the quality and specifications of the tag. Active are of course costlier than passive. In IIT Madras central library the tag costs approx 30 Rs. Tag printers costs variably as per the output they give we would encourage if you could please visit the page http://www.nextag.com/rfid-printer/shop-html  for better price listings as per your need.
For Tracking inventory on way is GPRS used along with RFID	RFID cannot be used to transmit over large distances, but we can facilitate the process by having RFID reader inside the truck that can continuously send the inventory data to central server through GPRS or 3G. While location of the truck can be tracked through GPS. Thus we can have two thronged knowledge of THE TRUCK along with its CONTENTS. We are talking about RFID with too much excitement, installing RFID devices and establishing other supplementary devices will incur costs, we still need to assess the cost-benefit analysis
GROUP 9
You say RFID tag can be used to avoid thefts. For genuine Shoppers, RFID tag is removed before they leave the shop premises. Don't you think even a thief can himself remove the tag?	Generally these tags are tied to the product with the help of a string with a very high tensile strength which cannot be broken easily manually or with scissors and stuff. However these strings are cut by store staff with the help of the special machines when purchase is made. If thieves can carry these machines inside the store and can escape from the eyes of CCTV or the store staff then theft is possible but it is highly improbable.
UNKNOWN GROUP
Has the RFID saturated, what are the future uses that we can foresee	Saturation!!! We believe we haven’t started using the technology efficiently, saturation is a too farfetched idea. We have talked about the positive sides of RFID till now there are multiple issues with the implementation, which are not on the technology side but on operational and functional side. RFID is being used basically by large organisations and that too on the storage and inventory side (majorly).  A few futuristic uses that we can foresee at this moment are:- 1) ANESTHETIC DOSAGES 2) ASSET MANAGEMENT 3) WASTE MANAGEMENT 4) MEDICAL SURGERIES 5) MOTHER BABY PAIRING 6) UNDERGROUND SEWERS 7) HOTELS AND RESORTS

Factors affecting READ RATES of RFID

After the presentation many groups seems to be interested in knowing the limitations and interferences that the RFID device might face.

We have collated basic interferences faced by RFID system with their possible remedies

ERROR	REASONS AND POSSIBLE REMEDIES
TRANSLUCENCE	Clothing made of organic and synthetic fibers, paper products, wood, non-conductive plastic and card boards are translucent to RF
ABSORPTION	Liquids, materials containing liquids such as foods, and liquids and foods containing salt in particular, will absorb UHF. Carbon containing compounds, such as graphite in solid or powder form also absorb UHF. It is possible to calculate the absorption rate of various rates of various substances to a certain frequency and the resulting dielectric loss. Positioning tags in the air gap just below the bottle cap may reduce absorption
SHIELDING	Metals and very thin metal foils particularly can conduct radio wave away from the target, not allowing it to pass through. In general higher frequency are more easily shielded than lower frequencies
DETUNING	Tag antennas are greatly affected by their immediate surroundings. A tag attached to a case of soft drink, for instance, is going to be more affected by its location than anything else. Tags that are placed too close together can capacitively couple to one another, detuning their antennas. The meta on conveyor, FLTs and other handling equipment can detune the tag. Tags with suitable antenna geometries, proper placement on individual cases, and proper case orientation on pallet can improve read rates. Package reengineering may also be required.
INTERFERENCE	“Dead Zones” due to the geometry of the environment. Conveyer apparatus can induce dead zones through vibrations or EM discharge from motors or controllers. Electronic discharge, from materials that accumulate static electricity and are not properly grounded, can also create interference.

RFID tags and its supporting hardware used in IIT Madras

The central library of IIT Madras required RFID Tags for books/CDs/ documents with the following technical specifications:

RFID Tag

• RFID passive GEN-1 tags
• Support standard- Philips I-code1 and ISO 15693
• Frequency 13.56 MHz
• HF long range Read/Write
• Size of tag 5x5 cm
• Compatible with SIP/SIP2/NCIP and with RFID reader

Supporting Hardware:

Two tagging stations: Controller model OMRON-V720-BC5D4A

One electronic book drop box Controller model OMRON-V720-BC5D4A

Antenna-supplied by ELIMS and manufactured by ST LogiTrack Singapore

RFID Gates supplied by ELIMS and manufactured by ST LogiTrack Singapore

Self check out Station manufactured by ST LogiTrack Singapore (Model AS-1502PG-C26)

SMS Reader supplied by ELIMS and manufactured by ST LogiTrack Singapore

Library Management Software: Central Library is currently using VIRTUA-VTLS library management software. The RFID tags should be integrated with VTLS data base.

Number of RFID tags ordered originally: 1 lakh

Number of RFID tags left: 1000

Cost of each Tag : RS 28

Implementation of RFID system in Central Library IIT Madras

RFID implementation was dream project of the librarian Dr. Harishchandra and finally he was able to successfully implement it year 2005.It was a step forward towards meeting the high infrastructure standards set by other Institutions such IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi.


Implementation of RFID can be broken into two major component namely capacity building which to build the required infrastructure to support the RFID system and Installing of Tagging stations

old: Self Stocking System

1) Capacity Building

Smart Card Preparation

Users Data base Creation

RFID Tagging

Revalidation of Data

Real-time Updation

Library Management Software

Integration

User Awareness Program

Site Preparation

2) Installing Tagging Stations

Identification of central place with AC

Working Hours 09AM to 09 PM for identification & training of Staff

Tagging all returned books additionally from shelves

Work Register

RFID found the Following Application areas inside IIT Madras to serve the students and the staff and make the processes both effective and efficient.

• Library Security
• Transactions
• Location of Publications
• Users Autonomy
• Users Dependent Services
• Stock Management
• Web-Interface

Electronic Book Drop

RFID Gates

Unlike any other project the staff of library faced numerous problem on their course of RFID implementation inside  the library.Dr. Harishchandra and his team managed to faced all the issues and problem with the boldness and were undeterred by the  initial failures.In the end they were able to emerge out as winners.

Here are some major Problems that they faced during RFID implementation

• Lack of Trained Staff
• Shortage of Staff
• Removing Installed RFID Tags
• Initial Activation problem in Tags
• Training of Users and Staff

Why was RFID implemented in IIT Madras ?

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras was established in 1959 by government of India as institute of national importance. The central library also started functioning from year 1959 from Department of civil engineering, in 1965 it shifted to current building of Department of  Management studies and finally in front of administrative building in year 2000.

 IIT Madras Central library decided to implement RFID system in 2005.

The Need to implement the system arises due to the following factors:

• Expanding electronic information environment
• Need for web based services
• Diversified user’s information thrust.
• Explosive growth of information
• Standardization
• E-Collections Building.
• Digital Rights Management
• Digital Preservation
• Security in Digital Libraries

Advantages of RFID implementation :

• It provides effective and efficient library detection system
• It has provided full autonomy to users in library transactions. They can issue and return the books as and when they need irrespective of the availability of staff.
• It has improved users satisfaction substantially.
• It has enhanced the security level of collections.
• It has removed various repetitive work carried out by the staff.
• It has enabled us to update the database in real time environment.
• It offers very high security. Each tag is identified by a Unique Identification Number (UIN), which can be either factory or manually programmed and then password protected. The excellence of this tag is that the data on the chip that uses sophisticated algorithm techniques cannot be duplicated or manipulated. Hence making it the perfect tool for Secure Access Control.
•  The potential problems associated with substandard print quality of barcodes, which in turn leads to scanning and reading problems
• It has enabled self check in/Check out System 
• Implementation of RFID System in Central library

Chipless RFID

A chipless RFID tag (also known as RF fibers) is one that does not make use of any integrated circuit technology (silicon chips) to store information. The tag uses fibers or materials that reflect a portion of the reader's signal back; the unique return signal can be used as an identifier. The next ten years will see a rapid gain in market share of mainstream printed and chipless RFID tags. The biggest opportunity it provides is that we can tag each items because of the availability at low costs.

Advantages:

•         It can be used at higher temperature variations and are less sensitive to the RF Interference.
•         It can be printed directly on the packaging products for the cost around 45 paise.
•         It shows enhanced physical performance
•          It is capable of handling information up to 256 bits and can be maneuvered upto the distance of ten meters
•          As compared to the silicon chips the RFID's show enhanced physical performance too
•          It can capture data fast (approx 2 microseconds per bit) at 6 inches
•     It can read through materials such as paper, cardboard, plastics etc

Timeline of RFID implementation in WalMart

Given here is a time line of implementation of RFID by WalMart in their stores.

YEAR	REMARKS
JUNE 2003	Wal-Mart’s then CIO Linda Dillman announces the start of the retailer’s EPC compliance program at a meeting of the VICS organization, saying Wal-Mart would ask its top 100 suppliers to begin tagging pallets and cases starting in January 2005.
AUGUST 2003	Wal-Mart says it will require all of its suppliers to put RFID tags carrying Electronic Product Codes on pallets and cases by the end of 2006. "We have asked our 100 top suppliers to have product on pallets employing RFID chips and in cases with RFID chips. By 2006, we will roll it out with all suppliers," Wal-Mart spokesman Tom Williams says.
NOVEMBER 2003	Wal-Mart brings the “top 100 suppliers” into Bentonville to learn more details of its RFID program, qualifying its previous announcement by saying the initial requirement will be for the first 100 to tag pallets and cases being shipped to three Texas DCs in January 2005.
APRIL  2004	Wal-Mart begins its RFID trial by receiving cases and pallets of product with EPC tags at a single distribution center in Sanger, TX as part of a test being conducted with eight suppliers. The tagged goods are to track goods to the back of seven Wal-Mart stores in Texas served by the DC. The first eight suppliers, which each tagged just a small number of SKUs, were Gillette, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Kraft Foods, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever.
JUNE 2004	Wal-Mart meets with its top 100 and "next 200" suppliers in Bentonville to lay out its RFID tagging requirements and timeline. Suppliers are told that by June 2005, RFID systems will be operating in up to six of its distribution centers and 250 stores. Wal-Mart further says that it expects to be using EPC technology in up to 13 distribution centers and 600 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores by the end of 2005. Deadline for the “next 200 suppliers” to start tagging cases and pallets is set for January 2006, though what shipments to what DCs is not clear.
OCTOBER 2004	Wal-Mart says it plans to start shipping RFID-tagged cases and pallets to a Sam's Club store in Plano, Texas very soon, starting the division’s RFID program.
JANUARY 2005	Many, but not all, of the “top 100” start shipping some tagged products to three Wal-Mart DCs in Texas.
MARCH 2005	CIO Linda Dillman says Wal-Mart is on track to support RFID capability in 600 stores and 12 distribution centers by the end of the year.
OCTOBER 2005	Wal-Mart says that by the end of this month, it will have installed radio frequency identification systems in more than 500 stores and five distribution centers.
OCTOBER 2005	Wal-Mart says it expects the next wave of 300 suppliers (making 600 total) to start shipping tagged cases and pallets by January 2007.
OCTOBER 2005	A Wal-Mart sponsored report from the University of Arkansas’ Information Technology Research Institute, a part of the Sam Walton College of Business, releases a report based on its preliminary study of the impact of RFID on reducing retail out-of-stocks (OOS). The researchers conclude that RFID reduced OOS at store level by 16% over non-RFID based stores.
JANUARY 2006	Wal-Mart says it is piloting a program with a few suppliers and EPCGlobal to generate advance ship notices for supplier shipments based on RFID reads
JANUARY 2006	Supposed deadline for the “next 200 suppliers” to begin sending some tagged product to some DCs, though relatively few do in any meaningful way.
MARCH 2006	Wal-Mart says it is working on two “proof of concept” pilots for using sensors along with RFID tags to track produce and environmental temperatures as the products move along the supply chain.
APRIL 2006	Wal-Mart says it will phase out the use of Gen 1 tags by in favor of Gen 2 by mid-year, saying it will no longer accept the use of Gen 1 tags on the cases and pallets it receives from its suppliers after June 30.
APRIL 2006	Linda Dillman leaves as CIO to take an executive role in Human Resources. Rollin Ford, previously head of supply chain and logistics, becomes CIO. Ford subsequently takes a much lower profile approach to RFID.
SEPTEMBER, 2006	Wal-Mart announces that by January 31, 2007, another 500 of Wal-Mart's 3,900 stores will have RFID readers installed. If it happened, that would bring the total of RFID-enabled Wal-Mart stores up to 1,000
FEBRUARY 2007	The Wall Street Journal runs an article entitled "Wal-Mart's Radio-Tracked Inventory Hits Static." The article says, "Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s next leap forward in ultra-efficient distribution is showing signs of fizzling," given a lack of internal progress in rolling out the technology and a lack of value for suppliers Rollin Ford writes rebuttal letter to the WSJ, and Wal-Mart finds the CIO of Campbell’s Soup and the chairman of Smucker’s to support RFID value prop. Meanwhile, CIO of Sara Lee says at the same time that RFID isn’t making sense at the current level of cost and performance
OCTOBER 2007	Wal-Mart announces a major change in its RFID strategy, largely abandoning the initial pallet/case focus on shipments going to Wal-Mart stores in favor of three focus areas: (1) shipments going to Sam’s Club; (2) promotional displays and products going to Wal-Mart stores; (3) tests to see RFID’s impact in improving category management in select areas. "We're coming at RFID from a different angle," Wal-Mart's VP of Information Technology,Carolyn Walton, says at the EPC Global conference
JANUARY 2008	: Wal-Mart announces its first real compliances “penalties” for failure to tag products, specifically for shipments to its Sam’s Club chain. Wal-Mart says in letter to suppliers that a failure to tag pallets sent to its distribution center in DeSoto, Texas, or directly to one of its stores served by that DC after January 31 will be charged a service fee, starting at $2 per untagged pallet on Feb. 1, and capping at $3 per pallet on Jan. 1, 2009.
JANUARY 2009	: Sam’s Club dramatically lowers penalties for failure to tag pallets from $2-3 dollars per pallet to just 12 cents – what Wal-Mart estimates it will cost Sam’s to do the tagging itself. It also pushes back the rollout schedule announced the previous January, saying the tagging requirement will apply only to pallets sent to the DeSoto DC or stores served by that DC in 2009. DC. Pallet-level tagging is expected to be rolled out chain-wide in 2010, while the deadline for tagging sellable units is "under review."
FEBRUARY 2009	Procter & Gamble says that after “validating” the benefits of RFID in merchandising and promotional displays, it is ending its pilot program with Wal-Mart for those displays, implying Wal-Mart is not acting on the information to improve store execution.