The right kind of ingredients for seasoning - RFID has been "changing partners" to show its infinite possibilities to be a part of every aspect of our daily lives and business. This year, RFID/USN Korea 2010 showed a great twist in the RFID/USN industry. Through convergence, the exhibition showcased mobile RFID technology where smartphones now function as readers at a low cost. This means that there will soon be a flood of applications, making RFID/USN more familiar to consumers.
Convergence Brings RFID USN to Consumers
Logistics, manufactures, construction -- new RFID/USN hardware and software technology and solutions, u-City solution and application services, mobile RFID and u-bikes -- the best market scene was presented by RFID/USN Korea 2010 to bring RFID/USN directly to consumers'.
Conferences were held alongside the exhibitions, with 800 attendees from various research facilities, worldwide RFID/USN companies and universities sharing ideas, policies, new technologies and standards as well as successful implementation cases for RFID/USN. It has been highlighted as the key technology for IT convergence and green growth, with scholars attending various lectures on 45 different themes.
This exhibition was attended by buyers from all over the globe includung USA, Japan and Europe; in addition they also executed business meetings as well as presentations for international and domestic technology and services. Roughly 50 million USD is expected to be made from the buyers meeting.
Government steps up for IT growth
The Korean government plans to raise the productivity of industries by adopting RFID/USN technology in numerous areas including resource management systems to smart grid and u-services. Additionally, the government has revealed plans to relocate RFID/USN related technological research from national laboratories to civilian companies.
On December 3, at COEX, during the 2nd day of the 'RFID/USN KOREA 2010' conference, government research institutes and related IT institutes such as ETRI and KETI (Korea Electronics Technology Institute), KEIT (Korea Evaluation Institute of Industry Technology) presented a diverse variety of RFID/USN based technologies.
Ceyon Technologies and KIC Systems
Ceyon Technologies presented their RFID reader for smart phones and provided solutions to find product information in real time via smartphone or tablet PC.
"When RFID readers read a tag, the product information is transmitted to the users' mobile devices such as thier smartphone and/or tablet PC," Company officials stated. "Product information can be monitored in real time even in industry field settings."
This system is currently available as a demo on the android market and an iPhone version is also in development.
Ceyon Technologies' automated RFID tagging system grabbed many buyers' attention at the RFID USN Korea 2010. They currently possess a variety of products and solutions in a diverse frequency range (125KHz, 134.2KHz, 13.65MHz, 900MHz, 2.4GHz) and their domestically developed RFID Reader and Tag has been implemented in areas from access control to logistics, bookkeeping, agriculture management and high-tech automated factories.
KIC Systems also presented their RFID company management system along with Austria Microsystems and the Institute of Logistics Information Technology who showed their new RFID related solutions. The government held a technology relocation presentation while introducing new RFID/USN related technology developed by the ETRI, KETI and KEIT.
ETRI
Researcher Chan Bang-hyo from the ETRI introduced their RFID soft-infraware technology and stated that "An entirely different smart RFID reader technology will be developed in accordance with international standards, and this will dominate the international and domestic RFID device market," he then added "we have developed technology to pioneer the active RFID devices and service market."
He also emphasized that "Middleware technology has expanded its infrastructure in order to achieve mutual operation in the international and domestic industry scene, we also expanded to RFID 2.0 technology."
According to the ETRI, this technology has relocated to Hanmi Pharmaceuticals and a technology relocation contract with LG Hitachi and Minerva is also planned for this month. ETRI also showcased their unmanned electronic passport screening system. The unmanned electronic passport screening system is a system that compares the fingerprints of the holder and the electronic passport to determine its genuineness. This technology will allow much faster and easier passport checks at the airport. When the passport holder presses the screening process button and places the electronic passport on the reading system, a passport identification and authentication process begins. After ID and authentication, the comparison process of the fingerprint is conducted, which once concluded will allow entry.
ENHC
ENHC showed their 'smart hybrid bicycle' at 'RFID/USN KOREA 2010'. The 'smart hybrid bicycle' was first revealed at this year's exhibition. An electric motor attached to the front wheels will allow motorists to drive the bicycle at speeds up to 30km/h at a push of a button while a GPS and wireless transmitters provide location information as well as navigational functions.
During locked modes, unauthorized transportation up to 5ms will be sensed by GPS triggering alarms. Pressure sensors and shock detection alarms are installed as well to prevent theft. Easy to read display for battery gauges and remaining power for the motor are provided and the bicycle automatically recharges when put onto its unique bicycle stand.
Currently 30 of these electric bicycles are available in the Song Pa district office for employee use and some are available for public use with only simple RFID card checks.
SK Telecom
SK Telecom successfully showcased mobile RFID applications. Starting with their wireless emoticon service for bicycles, the booth exhibited their other mobile RFID services including the tank lorry oil management service, sushi automatic paying service, whisky authentication service, and pharmaceutical information service. The wireless emoticon service is based on SK Telecom's own Zigbee chip, and is designed by the Lee Myung-soo Design Lab.
Many foreign buyers also paid keen interest to the Sushi Automatic Paying Service. The Sushi Automatic Paying Service consists of a sushi plate used in a rotating belt, which when placed on a RFID reader, provides the price and calorie of the selected dish.
