More Technology Than I'm Actually Comfortable Explaining 2: Electric Bungaloo

This post has nothing to do with bungaloos to be honest. I thought I should just break it to you right out so there can be a clean break. What it does involve in RFID tag coding which, while somewhat still a mystery to me, is now making itself more clear.

First and foremost, tags are a bit like a floppy disc or if you don't remember what those were, a CD. If you've burned a CD in the last five years at least (and I'm not referring to literally burning or creating a typical playable audio or video CD) you've probably noticed your computer asking you whether or not you want to make this CD read-only or whether you want to program it to be rewritable storage. This is sort of how RFID coding works. It comes in two flavors, read-only and rewritable.

Now of read-only tags you have two distinctions and those are about the time and origin of the written information. There are standard read-only which are coded by the manufacturer and can only be used to store an identification number unique to the tag but otherwise unrelated to the information of the book it gets stuck to. These can be useful in tandem with a bar-code system that already has the item information coded on it. There are also WORM tags which are read-only eventually, but come to the organization (in this case a library) blank. The library codes information about the book such as it's unique item number and other relevant information but once that initial coding is done, it is permanent.  This means only permanent information can be stored such as bibliographic information, not item location or status which may change with time.

Then there are rewritable tags, the most expensive of the lot, which can hold such temporary information. These get the same initial coding as WORM tags, but allow for further coding if necessary. Typically, the coding functions are password protected or at least partially read-only to maintain the integrity of the information available. The type of information capabilities for a rewritable tag include security functions that can be disabled at checkout or location information that can be used with an automated sorting machine.

That's all I've got for you today folks! Have a good morning!

References

3M. (2013). RFID 301. Retrieved from http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UgxGCuNyXTtnXTtnxfEEVtQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--&fn=RFID%20301.pdf

 

American Library Association. (2011, October 10). RFID technology for libraries. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/pla/tools/technotes/rfidtechnology

BarcodesInc. (2013). RFID Buying Guide. Retrieved from http://www.barcodesinc.com/info/buying-guides/rfid.htm

Can't Spell Big Brother Without a Big Bother

Some of you expressed the same thoughts as I did about my last post regarding RFID tagging patrons - that it just wouldn't go over well - but Maryska brought up one point I wanted to look into further. (By the way guys, Blogger is no longer letting me reply to comments. I don't know why, but if I don't reply for a long time it's not because I haven't read or cared, but because I'm trying to circumvent this issue.) How common is RFID tagging outside of the library? I know that it's used commercially in airports and shipping industries as a way to keep track of stock but other than that, my research has been too narrow to really catch anything on this topic. I did find an article that sums up some of the long history of RFID, such as it's implementation in WW2 as a means of differentiating enemy aircraft from friendlies and it's modern uses such as electronic toll paying, but I found this video that covers all that and more. And it's far more exciting than another text post I feel.

Fun facts for people that have now watched this video: that bank card looks just like mine! Neat.
Fun facts for people who haven't or won't watch this video: I will be summarizing some of the later points on the technology in a future post about the technical specifications of RFID tagging. Coming to laptops near you! And apparently baseball is just a ploy from big brother! Now that's a long con.

I'm concluding with some more of this guys videos. If you check out his Youtube channel, the videos mostly focus on off-topic uses for RFID such as those in the video above, they can be quite amusing.





I suppose I spent all that time making a tinfoil tri-point for nothing.




More fun facts: I think those were similar to the type of tags in our worker IDs when I worked construction.

Reference

Bhargava, H., Campbell, A., Das, A. M., Haines, B., Kleinschmidt, & J.Thornton, F. (2006). RFID security. Rockland, MA: Syngress Publishing.

Dobkin, D. M. (2008). The RF in RFID: Passive UHF RFID in practice. Boston: Newnes.

Spekman, R. E., & Sweeney, P. J. (2006). RFID: From concept to implementation. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 36(10), 736-754.

Non-RFID Library Post

I found something on a friend's personal blog that I thought would be fun to share.

In unrelated news, one of the most difficult parts of this blog so far is finding RFID sources that focus on library usage. Apparently there is a big hullabaloo going on about RFID tagging people but it's not entirely relevant to this blog...unless perhaps we discuss RFID tagging patrons. It would make check outs smoother certainly, since patrons wouldn't have to do that awkward fumble for their library card, and it would cut out on "lost" cards and people using another person's card. I do not endorse RFID tagging people in general, more because it would not be well received by most people, but it's an interesting thought.

More Technology Than I'm Actually Comfortable Explaining

Now, dear readers, don't get me wrong. I know a lot about the internet and how to use modern technology. I thoroughly proficient at tumblr and my smartphone and how to access youtube through my Playstation 3 and I can use an excel sheet like nobodies business. But when it comes to how these things actually work, I'm less useful than an astrolabe on a cloudy day. I'm not technologically minded. I can fix my a/c and install a basic power outlet, but in 23 years of following my electrician father around his work, I still can't really tell you how home wiring works. I've no issue being functionally ignorant of these things, just as I figure it's okay to not know architectural engineering. But I feel like I owe it to you, dear readers, to try and get to the nitty gritty nuts and bolts workings of RFID tagging as I possibly can. Which isn't all that much.

First we're going to talk about frequency. As RFID's name (Radio Frequency Identification if you've forgotten) suggests, each tag sends out a radio frequency that can be heard or more accurately read by a receiving device. The higher the frequency it sends, the further the signal can go without losing coherency, meaning the further away it can be read. This also means the closer the reader is to the tag the quicker it can read it. There are three general frequency areas for commercial tags, low, high, and ultra high. Low frequency must be read quite closely to be read at all, becoming unrecognizable at distances of at most 3 inches generally depending on the type of reader. This type of frequency might seem useless for library application which requires an amount of distance, but it is exactly the type of tag that is used in certain ID cards much like the technology you can find in my VSU 1card. High frequencies are the type more likely to be found in library tags since they can be read at several feet given an appropriate scanner. Ultrahigh can be read even further but to produce ultrahigh frequencies the technology needs to be much larger making them impractical.

Then there is the issue of active versus passive tagging, which refers to the power source of the technology within the tag. Tags that are actively powered can be considered always "on", always emitting a signal which makes them that much easier to read. They are always larger and much more expensive. Passive tags are powered by the signal sent out by a reader, sending signals only in reaction. It means that these signals take more time to read and that their reading ability hinges on the type of reader activating them, but it also means they are slimmer and easier to hide in books. They are also cheaper and way more common because of it.

Now when in comes to readers, there's typically three kinds as far as libraries go. There are the desk scanners, which have some of the portability of handheld scanner but much more power. These are wired to a computer and typically used in circulation or on conversion stations and to activate or deactivate security measures coded in tags. There are the handheld scanners which have decreased range and processing ability but can be easily moved through the stacks to aid tasks like taking inventory or weeding collections. Handheld and desktop scanners can be used to write coding on tags if the tags are equipped to be written. (I'll do a post on coding later I think.)Then there are the security sensors which read the tags as people come and ago from the library. They have superior range but no mobility. They also have to send out a constant field to activate passive tags, unlike the other kinds that typically only read on command. Though I generally think of them as the sensors you see at the exits of libraries, some libraries have them placed in book drops to automatically check in returned materials. Some of these book drops have connected automated book sorters that read the tag on a book and designate it to a pile to be reshelved in a certain area. I've never actually seen it done outside of the German video a way back.

 That's all I can think to include about the major technology at present. I'll post a sequel to this eventually explaining some of the technology on a tag itself if I ever figure out how it works.



References

3M. (2013). RFID 301. Retrieved from http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UgxGCuNyXTtnXTtnxfEEVtQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--&fn=RFID%20301.pdf

American Library Association. (2011, October 10). RFID technology for libraries. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/pla/tools/technotes/rfidtechnology

BarcodesInc. (2013). RFID Buying Guide. Retrieved from http://www.barcodesinc.com/info/buying-guides/rfid.htm

Bhargava, H., Campbell, A., Das, A. M., Haines, B., Kleinschmidt, & J.Thornton, F. (2006). RFID security. Rockland, MA: Syngress Publishing. 

Chatterjee, R., Choi, J., Park, S., & Wolfe, P. (2004). Proceedings from IIE Annual Conference: Evaluation of using RFID passive tags for monitoring product location / ownership. Norcross: Institute of Industrial Engineers

Pandian, M. P. (2010). RFID for libraries: A practical guide. Oxford: Chandos. 

In A World Full of Unlocked Doors The Man With The Key Is King

There's one thing that has always always bothered me about libraries and that's how ridiculously easy it is to steal from them. I found this out at an early age. I was sitting in the school library completely absorbed in reading (I think it was a Tamora Pierce novel, one of the Circle of Magic books maybe) when I was startled by the bell. I stuffed the book in my bag and ran off to catch the bus since missing the bus was a particular issue for me. By particular, I mean particularly recurrent. I finished the book at home and promptly forgot about it. When I did remember it, I realized it was now way overdue since I checked it out a month ago. (This is another particularly recurrent issue of mine. Also, why I never ever have change.) I turned it in with a heavy heart and shamefacedly shied away from the library for a few days until boredom got the best of me. When I finally faced the music and asked about my fine, I was surprised to find I never had one. I had never checked it out in the first place. I had this book for probably over a month and there were no repercussions. I wisely accepted my good luck and never spoke to anyone about it out of guilt.

The thing that gets me to this day is that the library had security sensors. I only knew what they were from my dad tripping them at stores all the time (because he has magnetized steel toed shoes, not because he was a thief, at least I don't think so). They never went off. The librarian didn't seem surprised that they wouldn't. They were useless sensors on purpose! Dummy sensors!

I digress. It makes my skin crawl to think that people are stealing things they can generally check out for free. It seems like the ultimate abuse of privileges. So any technology that improves the level of graft in public libraries makes me a happy camper. Hence the following video thing. It is another commercial video (though this is actually a slide show I guess) that displays why we should all buy RFID tag systems, but it goes further into depth with some of the technology talked about in previously videos as well as some technical information that might be more interesting/decipherable to people more technologically minded than myself. It also takes anti-theft measures to insane levels which I thoroughly enjoyed. I want to work at the library that employs facial recognition software!

RFID for Library Management System_Printronix

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References

Bhargava, H., Campbell, A., Das, A. M., Haines, B., Kleinschmidt, & J.Thornton, F. (2006). RFID security. Rockland, MA: Syngress Publishing.

Pandian, M. P. (2010). RFID for libraries: A practical guide. Oxford: Chandos.

How to Make An Oktoberfest Joke Unfunny

In searching for some commercial RFID videos I stumbled across this beauty produced by the Munich public library system. Initially I just enjoyed the announcer, who seemed to be literally possessed by the spirit of library efficiency but otherwise the video is quite pleasant and does a good job in showing how RFID can improve a large system in a way that is more than theoretical. Fair warning, this video is partially in German though it is subbed. If any German speakers watch this blog, feel free to correct any glaring mistranslations in the comments!

Perhaps The Furlings Were Librarians?

I was looking for more fun videos to add to my blog and lo and behold I found one! This one showcases some of the technology involved in an RFID system, some of which I've talked about before such as the security sensors, some I've not mentioned such as hand-held RFID readers which this video makes look like a Star Trek-esque scanner. Maybe that's just the device or maybe this man was genuinely looking for life signs, who knows. Regardless, this is the best soundtrack to date.