Speaking at the Softworld Exhibition that recently took place in Birmingham, UK, Mr Barraclough maintained that RFID will become as ubiquitous as bar codes. However, he noted that the laborious implementation of radio frequency solutions has resulted in some companies expressing a degree of apathy when it comes to adopting the technology.
Mr Barraclough said that while many companies like the idea of RFID, their major grief is that they do not want to get their IT department involved or have to wait a long time for the clearance to install the necessary maze of wires and lines.
In an effort to take the technology to new, easier levels, BT Auto-ID is currently working on a prototype RFID reader that is completely wire-free. I believe it’s the first of its kind, certainly used in the UK if not in Europe, commented Mr Barraclough, who went on to describe the simplicity of the concept. It’s a box, and in the box you’ve have an RFID reader, a GPS locater, a GSM card and a battery.
The new generation RFID reader is completely wire-free and takes 15 minutes to install. Placed on the wall, it reads the tags of all the objects moving past. Mr Barraclough said BT Auto-ID has piloted the new reader at a Select Plant Hire distribution center over the last six weeks, The feedback has been that they’re very happy, he concluded.
