December 2004
"The Next Big Little Thing" - A Look at the 2004-2005 Season of the Science & Technology Roundtable
Each month from September through June, the members of the Science and Technology Roundtable (STRT) gather to enjoy breakfast, networking and presentations by regional and national experts in science and technology. In November, Dr. Chris Diorio, Associate Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington and Chairman & Co-founder of Impinj, provided members with a close-up look at Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), "the next big little thing."
Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, involves the placement of a silicon chip containing a radio-enabled electronic identifier into a tag which can be affixed to objects. The technology is not exactly new - it has been around since the 1970's - but with major improvements in operability and the movement toward global RFID standards, not to mention a considerable reduction in size, it is coming into its own as a cutting-edge technology with a host of applications. Among the most recognized uses for which RFID is gaining significant traction is inventory control. A mere speck on your finger, the tiny silicon RFID chip is poised to replace the ubiquitous bar code, enabling manufacturers, distributors and retailers to track fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG's) throughout the supply chain.
The advantages of using RFID tags over bar codes are numerous: for the reader to communicate with the RFID chip, no line of sight is required, unlike scanning a bar code; the chip can not be smudged and is more difficult to "spoof;" chips, unlike bar codes, are rewritable and can be updated; and, each chip can carry a unique serial number for the particular item to which it is attached. As Dr. Diorio explained, the use of RFID technology will lead to a more agile supply chain by reducing manual intervention, out-of-stock and shrinkage while increasing efficiency and control. Companies are catching onto the advantages of reworking their inventory systems using RFID; in fact, one major retailer has issued a mandate that all pallets and cases be fitted with RFID tags next year.
RFID tags are not poised to merely replace the bar code on the bottom of your cereal box. The tags are being used or have the potential to be used in a variety of other ways. For example, Dr. Diorio noted that RFID tags on pharmaceutical bottles and in automobile tires would facilitate product recalls. Airlines can attach RFID tags to luggage to track it while in transit. The technology can help combat counterfeiting, too: the European Union is investigating the use of an RFID tag in every euro.
The possible uses for RFID are certain to expand. One hundred and twenty FMCG companies, 80 pharmaceutical companies and 6 out of 7 worldwide retailers support the use of RFID. By 2007, it is expected that 30 billion tags will be sold, an amount that is predicted to increase in subsequent years. Considering the many potential applications for RFID, the world could be looking at literally trillions of RFID tags in use in the coming years.
Dr. Diorio noted that there are challenges associated with the widespread use of RFID that will need to be addressed as the technology takes hold. Considering that, within a few years, many items in our everyday world will have an electronically accessible number attached to them, numerous privacy issues must be resolved. For now, "the next big little thing" presents exciting possibilities for the efficient movement of goods and people, and we are sure to hear more about RFID in the future.
STRT breakfasts are held on the second Friday of every month. Registration remains open, at a pro-rated amount, for individuals who wish to sign up for the remainder of the season. Upcoming speakers for the 2004-05 season include:
Dr. Richard Smith, Director of the Proteomics Research Resource for Integrative Biology for the National Center for Research Resources at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory;
Dr. Wick Haxton, Co-Principal Investigator on the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in the Cascades and Professor of Physics at the University of Washington;
Dr. Joe Miletich, Senior Vice President of Research and Pre-Clinical Development at Amgen;
Dr. Mark Reisman, Interventional Cardiology and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Swedish Medical Center; and,
Dr. Charles Campbell, Co-Director of the Center for Nanotechnology and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Washington.
STRT is pleased to welcome new sponsors StrategixVision and Swedish Medical Center for the 2004-05 season, and thanks its returning sponsors - Armfield, Harrison & Thomas, Inc., KPMG, and Perkins Coie - for their continued support.