What is RFID?

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a method of remotely storing and retrieving data using devices called RFID tags. An RFID tag is a small object, such as an adhesive sticker, that can be attached to or incorporated into a product. RFID tags contain antennasto enable them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver. There are four different kinds of tags commonly in use. They are categorised by their radio frequency: Low frequency tags (between 125 to 134 kilohertz), High frequency tags (13.56 megahertz), UHF tags (868 to 956 megahertz) and Microwave tags (2.45 gigahertz) RFID tags are mainly used for Pallet Tracking, pet monitoring and identification badgesfor building access control. Smart Cards embedded with RFID chips are widely used as electronic cash, e.g. Octopus Card in Hong Kong and the Netherlands to pay fares in mass transit systems and/or retail environment. A number of countries including the US have proposed to embed RFID devices in new passports to facilitate efficient machine reading of documents (as proposed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)). Like all passports, the RFID-enabled passport uniquely identifies its holder; in the proposal currently under consideration, the RFID tag will also include a number of biometric images.