tikitag is a relatively new product available to everyday consumers that allows people to link items to applications through the use of short-range RFID tags and readers.

How it Works
Basically, all you have to do is place a tikitag on the object of your choice and hover the object over the reader. To go more in depth, tikitag uses high frequency RFID tags that operate at 13.56MHZ and combines them with passive RFID tags and active readers. tikitag is also compatible with Near Field Communication (NFC), which is a technology that is slowly being implemented in mobile phones.

Uses
tikitag can be used from object to reader to computer, or from object to a NFC capable phone. While there are tons of different applications that can be used, a common example would be having a video play each time an obect with a tikitag is read. In addition to this basic application, there’s a long list of ideas that illustrates just how handy tikitag could be in the future.

See below for a video on popular uses for tikitag.

If you’ve ever been to a crowded bar or restaurant and the server hasn’t filled your drink in awhile, it can get quite frustrating fighting through the masses just to get another drink. With new iGlassware, you won’t have to worry about seeing the bottom of your glass ever again.

iGlassware is specifically engineered to determine the fluid levels of your beverage using high-resolution capacitance measurement and RFID technology. While your glass is sitting on the table, its data, or the amount of liquid in it, is transmitted to your server or bartender via a coil that is embedded in the table and powers the system.

If you’re a restaurant or bar owner, you may be thinking that this system sounds very expensive, but because iGlassware uses a standard microprocessor and a small number of components, iGlassware is an affordable RFID solution that can keep customers happy and hydrated.

Air New Zealand has invested the equivalent of over $16 million USD to install 112 new RFID capable kiosks and 84 gate scanners at 26 airports. This technology will deem them one of the first airlines in the world to offer RFID-enabled self-scanned check-in and boarding services.

So far, the RFID-enabled ePass has been issued to 100,000 Air New Zealand Gold Elite, Gold, and Silver customers in order to provide such regular travelers with a permanent and reusable boarding pass.

In the long run, the use of RFID technology will reduce bag-check lines and customer waiting times, making boarding as simple as possible. In addition to simplicity, Air New Zealand’s reusable RFID Boarding pass solution is a green alternative that eliminates the need for paper documents. And, unlike paper documents, the e-pass is similar in size to a small bar-code sticker, making it perfect for attaching to mobile phones so passengers never have to worry about forgetting it!

While forgetting the pass isn’t an issue, some may be concerned about security issues, but rest assured. The RFID epass is secure because it doesn’t contain any personal information, only a unique sequence of numbers that acts as a tag identifier. Passengers’ information is only stored in Air New Zealand’s IT system, and is only accessed upon departure at the gate.

In addition to boarding, passengers will also be able to use their ePass to check baggage at the kiosks and place it directly onto the conveyor belt, eliminating the usual wait that comes with checking baggage. Instead, passengers simply scan their RFID ePass tag at the check-in kiosk and load their bags on the conveyor.

Air New Zealand is confident that they have a great solution that will save frequent travelers time while still maintaining their privacy. As more and more airlines are switching to solutions that make use of RFID or 2D barcode technology, it’s only a matter of time before we’re all saving time at the airport!

Intermec recently released an Intermec Device Deployment Kit to support Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile, a platform for Windows Mobile and Windows CE that consists of a runtime engine and tools for developing, deploying and managing RFID solutions on mobile devices. This allows making mobile RFID solutions for customers easier and gives partners the ability to develop, deploy and manage.

Now, customers can integrate both fixed and mobile RFID readers into common business processes through the same interface, providing a comprehensive platform for real-time decision that supports:
• Barcode scanning
• Pull-trigger events
• Storing and forwarding tag events
• Remote configuration and administration of handheld devices

The deployment kit for BizTalk RFID Mobile allows for communication between a server and mobile platforms and procides the tools that developers need to quickly and easily build plug-and-play vertical market applications.

Intermec boasts seamless integration with BizTalk RFID for the CN3 and CK61 mobile computers with the IP30 snap-on RFID reader, and the CV30 fixed vehicle computer with the IV7 vehicle mount RFID reader.

You can get the Intermec Device Deployment Kit for Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile here.

A few months back, Kodak filed a patent for the use of edible RFID chips. Kodak’s edible RFID chips are completely harmless to humans and are coated with a soft gelatin that slowly dissolves once inside the stomach. The edible RFID chips could be used for a variety of health reasons.

One way the edible RFID chip would come in handy is by monitoring the human digestive system. Since the chips stop working after being exposed to gastric acid for a specific period of time, the edible RFID chips would be a subtle way to monitor the digestive track. In addition, edible RFID chips could be placed in patient’s medication to ensure that they are actually taking it. Similar RFID chips could also be placed in synthetic joints in order to tell when another surgery is needed.

While the patent is still pending, you can read Kodak’s plans for the edible RFID chip here.