ABSTRACT
RFID is a wireless technology suitable for low-power transmission of data within the home. This chapter discusses the deployment of this important emerging technology, including market developments and technical issues. It explores the origins of the technology, its applications, advantages, and inherent limitations. The chapter also examines its deployment in health care and summarizes important gaps before examining its combination with sensor technologies and exploring future prospects. Innovation in RFID boomed in the 1970s through both publicly and privately funded research and development. RFID systems consist of two main components: a transponder that carries data and an interrogator that reads that data. Studies by market research firms and consultancies predict an explosion in the market for RFID. RFID systems in combination with sensors can push computing to the edges of networks, and embed intelligence into everyday objects.
