To Soothe the Angst Over RFID

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 3/6/2006

Dear Editor:

Re: "I Spy ... an Attendee Wearing Blue" (Feb. 20, 2006)

I read with interest your comments on RFID (radio frequency identification) and privacy. There is definitely a misunderstanding that this technology creates a walking billboard of a person's confidential information. There are at present two types of RFID tags, a long-range tag which only carries a number, such as a registration number, and a short-range tag which does carry data up to 250 characters.

The long-range tag, which is used for tracking, does not divulge that person's identity to anyone except convention or show management. Management would use that for session tracking and for CE or CME credits so attendees can download their certificates.

The short-range tags do carry data, but must be read by a hand-held scanner within six to eight inches (of the tag). It functions the same as what we have been using for years with Magstrip and, more recently, PDF 2D barcodes. So if a person does not want to give their data all they need to do is not allow their badge to be scanned within the 8-inch range.

Richard Melliand, President, Convention Information Systems, Alexandria, Va.