A couple of years ago, I bought a shirt from Lands End. It's a nice shirt and I wear it a lot. Now, I'd like to buy a couple more just like it. I'm not about to go into Sears (who now owns Lands End) and go hunting for the shirt. I don't have one of their paper catalogs lying around, so I’m going to go online.
I want to be sure I get exactly the same style shirt I got last time. How can I be sure?
Until recently, I was hoping that someday my Lands End shirt would have an RFID tag in it and I would have a desktop RFID reader. I could just introduce the tag to the reader and the Lands End Web site would pop up on the screen of my home computer. And then, just like that I could buy another. Or I could buy two more. And I could buy one for my friend Mitch while I’m at it.
It doesn’t stop there. I wanted my digital camcorder to have the same capability. When I introduce it to my desktop RFID reader, it would pop up the Panasonic Web site and save me the (considerable) trouble of finding the right page for the precisely correct model and revision. Once on the correct Web page, I could read support information, get tips and buy accessories.
And there’s more. The RFID tag would have read/write memory and an interface to the computer inside the camcorder. The Web site could query this information – with my permission – and learn about how I’m using the camcorder. Based on what it learned, the Web site could recommend new features and other ways for me to get more value from my camcorder. As an example, my camcorder (like many others) has a feature that steadies the picture when the camera moves while recording. I need this feature. Presumably, the Web site could even turn on this feature for me, if I wanted it to.
When the Auto ID Center (now ePC Global Inc.) describes the ‘Internet of things', this is what I think of. Smart Possessions.
RFID is a great technology for implementing Smart Possessions for the following reasons:
- The air and data protocols are standard.
- It doesn’t require cables and connectors.
- The cost of tags and readers will be very low.
To me it’s compelling that we could use the same technology to make both shirts and camcorders smart. The problem is that RFID tags can be read without permission from readers across the room or even across the street and this creates legitimate privacy concerns. Don’t get me wrong. If you want to find out that I’m wearing a Lands End shirt, I’m okay with that. More power to you. You can even query the brand and model of my camcorder – and how I use it.
On the other hand, I don’t want you to know what credit cards I’m carrying, how much cash I have or my driver’s license number. How do we sort this all out? Right now, I only know one solution: Require every organization that tags any individual consumer possession to inform the potential owner. Give that consumer the option to either remove the tag or not take possession of the object.
For items that consumers choose to purchase, the tagging enterprises would have to label the items so consumers know. Consumers could ‘opt out’ by removing the tag, disabling the tag or choosing not to purchase the product. Although consumers don’t actually purchase store loyalty cards, these same policies would still apply.
For items that individuals are required to carry - such as a driver’s license – a consumer must be able to remove the tag or disable it. For some required possessions – like cash – this isn’t practical. In my opinion, cash shouldn’t be tagged.
I would love to know about a better solution. If these RFID tags were only readable at very short ranges, that might solve the problem. Unfortunately, I think it would be hard to make consumers believe their tags couldn’t be read from afar.
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