Cleanup On The Espionage Aisle

[phongn]

Remember, also, the speculation in the article that RFID will be openly expanded into your home, ostensibly to alert you when you're running low on something, etc. If they really do plan on making such an expansion, they'll need booster hardware to achieve it. Large appliances are the best choices for incorporation of the larger transmitters necessary to accomplish that task, openly or covertly.

So basically, you're paying them to spy on you.

Not neccessarily. Your home RFID network need not be connected to an external network - it might alert your family that you need more orange juice, but it's a leap to assume that it'll also alert the grocer (unless you want them to)

[phongn]

Ludicrous things sometimes happen; but, essentially, I agree. Good point. Write-protection is covered, then -- what about detecting and disrupting an unwelcome RFID network?

You could do that with a low-powered jammer. Would be annoying, but there probably will be some sort of backup (SKU label or UPC)

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Remember, also, the speculation in the article that RFID will be openly expanded into your home, ostensibly to alert you when you're running low on something, etc. If they really do plan on making such an expansion, they'll need booster hardware to achieve it. Large appliances are the best choices for incorporation of the larger transmitters necessary to accomplish that task, openly or covertly.

So basically, you're paying them to spy on you.

Not neccessarily. Your home RFID network need not be connected to an external network - it might alert your family that you need more orange juice, but it's a leap to assume that it'll also alert the grocer (unless you want them to)

I think when it comes to personal privacy and security, people are just as likely to be upset by things which are merely feasible as they are to be upset by things which are probable.

Something else to consider is that this technology is largely unnecessary. There is no substantial benefit to the consumer over present systems. Who, then, does see a substantial benefit by implementing RFID?

[phongn]

Something else to consider is that this technology is largely unnecessary. There is no substantial benefit to the consumer over present systems. Who, then, does see a substantial benefit by implementing RFID?

The retailer, possibly the producer. The cost appears to be minimal (as little as five cents per tag, easily spread over a variety of goods). The consumer might see a speedup in checkout, but its not really much of an advantage for them

[UltraViolence83]

Only speed increase I'd see happening is that you won't have to wait when they can't scan the item sometimes.



And if you need electronics to tell you when to buy something you need, you're too mentally incompetent to be driving to the store anyway.