Radio frequency identification (RFID)

First conceived in 1948, Radio Frequency identification (RFID) has taken many years for the technology to mature to the point where it is sufficiently affordable and reliable for widespread use. From Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) for article (mainly clothing) security to more sophisticated uses, RFID is seen by some as the inevitable replacement for bar codes. With increasing use comes increasing concern on privacy and security. Clearly there is considerable work to be undertaken before RFID becomes as pervasive as bar codes although the tempo of change is increasing rapidly. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.