Radio Frequency Reader

A Radio Frequency Reader is a reader used to read data on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Tags. This system is a wireless system. The RFID tag has a small microchip and an antenna. The reader and the tag "communicate through radio waves that the Radio Frequency Reader emits. This radio wave "powers up" the RFID tag and information stored in the tag is passed between them.

A Radio Frequency Reader is barely affected by barriers, it can read the RFID tags through almost anything (except conductive materials-water,metal,etc.)

We see this technology in everyday life though we may not be aware of it. How? Well, when you go shopping, most stores have these two devices (one on each side) right before the door that sounds when someone walks out with the stores merchandise without paying for it. This is an example of the Radio Frequency Reader/RFID Tag technology where the merchandise has a RFID tag and the two devices before the stores are Radio Frequency Readers.

They are also developing this technology in order to integrate it with grocery shopping. They are planning to allow the shoppers to just grab their groceries and walk through a device that automatically reads and deducts the total amount of the groceries from their credit card accounts and the like.

If you are interested in what this is like, check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xNhL39uD7I

However, there is a lot of concern regarding privacy issue when it comes to this technology. People are worried that as the technology becomes more and more developed, it would become easier for the companies to gain information and track them.

Sources:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/rfid3.htm

http://www.rfidreader.com/rfid-about/index.html

http://www.jefflindsay.com/rfid4.shtml

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RFID.html

http://www.junkbusters.com/rfid.html

http://www.rfidgazette.org/2005/03/rfid_privacy_is.html