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Tuesday, 14 January 2014

ubiquitous_computing_exam_question

What does the acronym RFID stand for?
What is it used for? (6 marks)
                                        
1) The acronym RFID stands for radio frequency identification device. Radio Frequency Identification is ranked among the top 10 of dominant future technologies
2&3) It is used for Ubiquitous computing which is advanced computing concept where computing is made to appear everywhere and anywhere. Ubiquitous computing can be used in any device. It can be used anywhere and everywhere.
4) RFID works by digital data encoded in RFID tags or smart labels are captured by a reader via radio waves. RFID is similar to bar-coding in that data from a tag or label are captured by a device that stores the data in a database. Data collected from tags is then passed through communication interfaces (cab be cable or wireless) to host computer systems in the same manner that data scanned from bar code labels is captured and passed to computer systems for interpretation, storage, and action.
5) RFID tags come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes:
Animal tracking tags, inserted beneath the skin, can be rice-sized. Or a cat flap. This works by a chip being on the cat’s collar and the cat flap only lets the cat through with this chip. It doesn’t let any other cats through. A car manufacturer wants to find out more about when and where the seat it has ordered for your car was assembled. Thanks to RFID, the company could simply confirm safety information deposited in a database by the manufacturer of the seat.
6) Credit-card shaped for use in access applications.
In the future they could be used for Home. It could replace keys with cards, automatic I.d related functions, energy-saving and more personal, tag activating behaviours (e.g. turn lights on, turn gadgets on or off).  Developments in RFID technology continue to yield larger memory capacities, wider Reading ranges, and faster processing.
Here are some other ways they might be used in the future;
  • Real-time parking spaces indicators (vehicular services).
  • Self-check in at Libraries / rental services (minimizing labor costs). Self-service tills and points will also advance.
  • Building Security - secure access controls, documentation and passports.
  • Airports - for baggage (and maybe traveler) tracking and tracing/locating. RFID could also be used by Airlines for their own assets, as well as customers.
  • Environmental - Energy, Ozone & Pollution measuring equipment.
  • SMART home controls - systems to manage home/business energy consumption/production – smart cards could activate energy sources. Smart Home Controls could advance in to more areas of consumption.
  • Toll/road – collection/charging and control measures. Many more RFID based payment collection systems.
  • Vehicles - Tyre Pressure, Engine and Fuel related & Exhaust monitoring measures (e.g. carbon footprint measures).


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