High Tech, Under the Skin. What do you think of RFID implants?

[slakjaw]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/02/fashion/thursdaystyles/02tags.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


"The physical reality of the chip in the body is no big deal," said Amal Graafstra, who in March 2005 became the first known person to independently have himself implanted with a chip by having a surgeon friend place it in his hand. "But the symbolism of the tag is much more of a big deal as a social marker."


While I do not look at this as "the mark of the beast" or anything like that, I still would never get this done.

These things work by receiving RF energy and then they transmit back out RF energy no batteries or other power source is needed.

If you have an 802.11 wireless AP in your home, they DO put out enough to energize these RFID chips. This could (not likely) give a thief an inventory of your home. Depending on how much of your stuff has RFID.

What if you have your bank account or credit card information on one, implanted into your hand. It seems to me that would be easier to steal than someones wallet.

I am interested in hearing what others think of this new technology.

(Side Note: If you expose these things to a high level of RF radiation, they will get hot, smoke, and sometimes catch on fire. LOL)

[RickM]

They've been using this on pets for quite some time. The scanners don't seem to be as sensitive as reported.

Just like my Wireless access point has a claimed range of 1000 feet yet my laptop dies one room over....

[bryanthompson]

Every sex offender should have something obvious tatooed on their forehead, and a chip implanted so they can be tracked. They have no rights, they should be stigmatized or dead or both.

What's the range on rfid chips? I thought it was only a couple of feet that they were readable...

[slakjaw]

Bryan,

The range can be from a few feet or up to say like satellite tracking.
Generally the range is a few hundred feet. Start putting trees or walls in between and it goes down significantly. The power that these things receive the more they put out. Up to the point where they burn up.
I agree with you on child molesters though.

Rick,
Walls degrade 802.11 significantly. However I doubt it’s your access point. It’s likely your wireless card in your laptop.

[NICKG]

how long before we are asked to be chipped in the name of national security....like the jews in the camps were, sooner than we think i bet

[stevepaa]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
Every sex offender should have something obvious tatooed on their forehead, and a chip implanted so they can be tracked. They have no rights, they should be stigmatized or dead or both.

You mean like a big red A. I think that was tried before.

[singpilot]

New passports have them. Some of the groceries you buy have them. They are showing up in things you wouldn't think of.

It one of those things brought to you by the people that brought you targeted advertising. Get used to it.

[stevepaa]

Sing, elaborate on how they work for groceries? thanks

[singpilot]

I saw a report somewhere that was tracking the product from production to distribution to point of sale. Had to do with dated product, the manufacturer was trying to pin down why they got so much expired product back from stores. They were trying to reduce the time that stuff 'sat', other than on the shelf. Turns out the large chains were at fault. They bought in such large quantities that product would sit in distribution warehouses until 'drawn down' by individual stores. Sometimes using their own trucking network to ship excesses from one end of the country to the other.

I guess then the stores even started instrumenting the end of isles (to pick up the items in your cart) to determing the order that shoppers went thru the stores to rearrange items for maximum exposure. Stuff that if seen, would be picked up on impulse, but buried would not. The 'mandatory' (things that everyone needs to go to the store for) stuff could almost be put anywhere. Ever noticed how getting eggs, bread, dog food, toilet paper and milk send you to every corner of the store?

[stevepaa]

Very interesting and clever. thanks

[RickM]

Sing, I'm under the impression that Walmart uses a similar system for product lifecycle intelligence.

[tobster1911]

I work with RFID for a living. Here are some things that should clear up a few of the questions.

RFID works on specific frequencies.

The most common is 125kHz. This is the frequency used for access control doors, animal ID, automobile immobilizer, ect. This has a range of only 1-12 inches.

The next most common frequency is 13.56MHz. This is used mainly for secure applications. These are passports, credit cards, ect. These have a range of about 24 inches best case.

Both of these work on magnetic field not electric fields.

The most resent is UHF. This is the "Walmart" driven RFID tags. They use 868MHz (EU) and 915MHz (US). These have a range of around 30ft. They are very large in size (credit card size).

There are no fully passive RFID tags that can be read from satellite that I am aware of.

The easiest to implant in a human would be the 125kHz. They already use this in cows, pets, ect. Range is very limited due to the size of antenna. Only 1-2 inches in this case.

RFID scare aside, this is very fun technology.

[ChrisBennet]

My company (I'm a partner) is an RFID solution provider, mostly the 13.56Mhz.
Most RFID tags are passive so you need a good size antenna to get much range. The handheld readers we use only read the tags when they are almost touching - 1/2" or so.

We're also working on solutions the use "active" tags for tracking people (inmates) and objects. Active tags have a battery and send out a signal that can be picked up across a room. Think car toll xmitters.

One advantage to RFID is the increased data storage and resistance to counterfeiting.
-Chris