RFID, or radio-frequency identification, is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data. The technology is used in various facets of society. It's primarily used to track products, animals and transactions. Applications for modern RFID technology include livestock tracking, transportation, ticketing, asset management and currency transactions.
RFID in World War II
According to RFID Tribe, the very first use of RFID occurred during World War II. The British army used RFID technology to distinguish between friendly and enemy aircraft over British skies. The British used the IFF: Friend or Foe System. Today, both commercial and private aviation traffic control function based on the initial Friend or Foe System.
First RFID Patent and E-Tolls
According to "The RFID Journal," the first patent for RFID technology occurred in 1973. The patent was for an RFID tag with writable memory. Later that year, a California entrepreneur named Charles Walton created the idea of using RFID technology in a small transponder that could unlock doors without the need for a key.
In 1997, RFID entered the world of financial transactions. Exxon/Mobil used the technology to allow its drivers to make gas purchases. Exxon drivers simply needed to wave a key fob embedded with an RFID chip in front of the gasoline pump. Today, integrated payment systems use RFID technology to monitor transactions. Toll roads throughout the world use the technology for e-tolling. Transit systems also use the technology to help the public easily pay transportation fees. Some traditional bar codes are also being replaced with RFID tags. Library systems are using RFID to keep track of books, CDs and DVDs.
RFID and the Government
For many years, the U.S. government helped advance RFID technology. The government created ways to use the technology for its benefit. For example, the U.S. Energy Department used RFID to track nuclear materials. Scientists decided to place RFID technology in trucks and at nuclear facility gates to keep tabs on nuclear materials. When the United States Energy Department experienced success with the technology, the Agricultural Department decided to use it. RFID tags were injected under the skin of cows to keep track of the animals and monitor health data. Today, cows all over the world are still embedded with tracking chips.
RFID and Rising Controversy
One of the most controversial uses for RFID is its implantation in humans. Some opponents of implantable RFID chips think that the devices could be abused by governments and lead to a loss of civil liberties. Additionally, the risk of identity theft is also a concern. Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has concerns about the medical downsides or potential hazards that implanting the device in humans could have.
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