Uh Oh, They Might Discover I'm Getting in Shape

Nike+ IPod = Surveillance

If you enhance your workout with the new Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, you may be making yourself a surveillance target.

A report from four University of Washington researchers to be released Thursday reveals that security flaws in the new RFID-powered device from Nike and Apple make it easy for tech-savvy stalkers, thieves and corporations to track your movements. With just a few hundred dollars and a little know-how, someone could even plot your running routes on a Google map without your knowledge.

America: Freedom to Fascism

This movie deals with RFID and the erosion of civil liberties.

One Giant Leap for Big Brother

New RFID tech would track airport passengers
The inventors of a new monitoring system that uses RFID tags claim it could improve airport security by tracking passengers as they mingle in the departure lounge.
Read the story here.

Champion Chips

I'm guessing we'll be using the "black" chip:

Black chips are issued by the event for one time use. These chips are not for sale. The participants must return these chips after crossing the finish line. If the chip is not returned, some events will charge participants for the costs involved.

Chips (and Salsa) at the Race

I'm looking into running the 10K "Chile Pepper Festival" here in Fayetteville. Interestingly, all runners will be "chipped," followed by a Mexican food meal after the race...

This year's event will be chip timed and scored by ChampionChip. Chips will be issued on race day only. Each runner will be required to wear an electronic chip which will be zip tied to his or her shoelace. At the conclusion of each race, the chips will be collected. Each participant is responsible for returning the chip to the timekeeper. There will be a $30.00 charge per chip for any that are not returned.

Here is the story

33 Ways RFID Has Invaded Your Life

Sound like science fiction to you? Maybe not; RFID has already settled comfortably in our midst, and is creeping onward every day...

Read the story

RFID Flipbook test

Out at the RFID Research Center today was able to do some great, albeit simple, testing. Dave, Justin, Colby and the others were extremely helpful in allowing me to use the readers, antennas, tags and even the computer and projection system. The books are from a class project in my Elements of Animation course. The students were required to buy and old paperback novel and create a simple flipbook animation inside of it. Ideally, I would have liked to have had the tagged book today trigger the .mov video file of the book being flipped, but we were using the Alien Technology's default demo software for the testing. All in all, a good initial test. Here is some video footage of the test.

Passports

Passports and Privacy: Here Come the RFID Chips
The two main concerns with putting RFID chips in passports seem to be that people with readers will be able to "steal your identity" and "discover your citizenship." The latter is funny to me. Americans insisting on wearing their white tennis shoes at all hours of the day is enough of a declaration of citizenship as anything.

Brainstorm session

Had a great brainstorm session with Justin Patton and Dave Cromhout out at the RFID Research Center. I'm preparing to purchase some RFID equipment and they've agreed to allow some testing out there. Things are moving forward once again.

Keep track of car keys, remote controls, shoes

Now we're getting somewhere - if I can chip my remote control or my car keys so I never lose them... that's the stuff.

Two years ago, for example, every one of the 6,000 paper files in the offices of the Ontario Motor Vehicles Claims Fund joined Mr. Smith's list of "things." Each folder now carries an RFID chip that makes the file traceable.

A good overview of how we're watched these days

It's your choice: Learn to use the new surveillance technology to your advantage, or kiss your privacy goodbye.

A discussion of forced implantation ... it begins!

"Your industry is sick." This was the opening line of an email received last week by RFID Update in reference to a televised interview on the Fox News Channel with VeriChip chairman Scott Silverman, who argues that implanting microchips in immigrants to the United States could be a viable solution to the immigration issue.

Also:
Are there really plans to insert RFID chips under your skin if you get a work permit for the US? And if there are, will they work?

Silverman claims the idea is more than just a pipe dream, and said, "We have talked to many people in Washington about using it." Read more at Networking Pipeline

The Boss wants to see you...

RFID MEETS GEORGE ORWELL'S TELESCREEN

Not too difficult to see where this is going. I've had bosses who would have had no problem using technology like this. "Where's Tom?! He's not at his station?!"

RFID Research Center

Met with Justin Patton at the RFID Research Center, which is nestled in the giant Hannah's Candles warehouse in south Fayetteville. It was a good meeting and he has pledged support for some of my project ideas using RFID for "artistic purposes." Looking forward to working with them out there.

I, Beast Exhibit at IDMAA

I, Beast Exhibit
Originally uploaded by thapgood.

I showed "I, Beast" last week at the International Digital Media and Arts Association at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The exhibit was titled "IDEAS: Emerging Codes of the Digital." During the gallery talk, we had a good discussion of the work and of RFID. Every time I show it, more people are thinking about RFID and that's a good thing.

University of Arkansas RFID Research Center's Bill Hardgrave

I met today with Bill Hardgrave, the executive director of the RFID Research Center here on campus. He, too, was very accessible and friendly. I found it important to talk to him, representing the main "opposing viewpoint" of Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre and the privacy advocates and concerned Christians. He brought out an amazing array of gen 1 and gen 2 tags, as well as a vial of liquid containing many RFID chips about the size of a grain of sand, literally (made by Alien Technology). He seems very genuine and passionate about the potential of RFID and the changes he believes it will bring to the world. It was a good meeting and I look forward to further meetings with him and his lab staff.

Cigarette age verification with RFID. This is good, right?

This is a perfect example of the confusing mass introduction of RFID.
Japan to roll out age-verifying cigarette machines
It's not actually based on some type of payment method using RFID, but on an age verification through some type of official RFID-enabled card. This is a good example of the classic "wait, this is good, right?" Then again, in 20 years, when I'm at the store checkout line with my bacon and eggs, and I get red-flagged by my health or life insurance provider, I'll regret thinking this was a good idea.

Barnes & Noble Flash 8 Tag

A funny note about the purchasing of Spychips Friday at Barnes & Noble. I only looked at one other book, Macromedia Flash 8 Advanced for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickPro Guide, and as soon as I opened it up, a tag dropped out. I'm pretty sure it was RFID, with the telltale little black dot of the chip surrounded by the antenna. It was so ironic I had to tell someone, so I showed the BN worker who happened to be stocking in that aisle and she appreciated the irony.
UPDATE: It was actually an EAS tag, not the typical RFID tag. This tag doesn't probably include individualized data, but probably a 1-bit anti-theft tag, an identical tag that any other book in the store might have. Oh, well, still some "irony" value there somewhere...

Spychips' Katherine Albrecht

I had a great conversation with Katherine Albrecht, founder of Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN) and co-author of The Spychips Threat: Why Christians Should Resist RFID and Electronic Surveillance. I found her very accessible and friendly. She seems to be genuine and definitely has done her homework. I have finished half of the book and it's a great read. I'll post more about our conversation later. Here's her Spychips Web site.

Presenting I, Beast at iDMAa, U Arizona

I'll be presenting I, Beast in the Hiestand Galleries at Miami University in Oxford, OH, and will be engaged in a discussion with two other digital artists, LiQin Tan and Mat Rappaport. The discussion will take place Friday, April 7th from 9:00 - 10:15, and the work will be viewable from April 6 - 8 in the gallery.

In mid May I'll be discussing the project with students at the University of Arizona's Art Department and be teaching a workshop on AfterEffects with RFID as a topic.

Yikes. Good idea, but is it time yet?

When you start talking about administering drugs and drug dosage to patients in a hospital, based on their RFID bracelet, it sounds like just the right step. But is the technology ready yet? One misread, of which it sounds like there are still many according to people in the industry I've spoken with, can translate to incorrect drugs being administered. That's dangerous.

When it comes to taking care of patients, what is more important than their safety? Bangkok Hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in Thailand providing tertiary healthcare, has been studying a plan to implement RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to enhance the level of safety for its patients.

It is expected that an RFID-based wristband will be issued to patients. The band will carry basic information about the patient, such as name, sex, age, and probably information about drugs to be used and the correct dosages to be administered.

Is the technology ready for this? If so, great.

Here's the story, in The Nation.

RFID: Where will it not go?

An interesting article about all the possible uses for RFID that are forecast (RFID everywhere, or "ubiquitous RFID.") The supply industry will change drastically with the technology, but it's still a little "boring" to most people. Here are some interesting things coming, according to Physorg.com:

RFID pops up in Philips' Next Simplicity concepts in contexts you might never have dreamt of: the 'Herbarium', a miniature solar-powered greenhouse, for instance. You simply place biodegradable pads - holding soil, seeds and an RFID tag - under an arch that provides light, heating and irrigation. The tag plays two roles. It communicates with LEDs on the pot to display the plant's name, so even the most inexperienced plant grower will know which plant is which. It also ensures each plant receives the light, water and nutrients it needs, and informs the owner when it's harvesting time.

"Let's say a young boy is going for a CAT scan," says John Anastos, Chairman of Radiology at the Lutheran General Hospital. "First, he gets to preview various animation themes. He chooses his favorite and takes a holographic RFID badge with a Philips ICODE chip. When he goes into the examination room, he waves the badge at the scanning equipment, and the walls and ceiling come to life with animations, accompanied by music and other sounds. It keeps him relaxed and it's a great way to give him instructions. When it's time for him to hold his breath, he sees a cartoon character holding his own breath!"

Prices on I, Beast pieces in faculty show

The University of Arkansas gallery director just asked me what the price on my I, Beast pieces in the faculty show would be. The answer is that each of the three is $222 and you have to buy all three.

When you really want privacy...

If I were buying Viagra (and I don't... really!), I would be a little wary.

RFID Manufacturing Workshop at University of Arkansas

The RFID Manufacturing Workshop will be held January 25-26 at the University of Arkansas Center for Continuing Education on the downtown Fayetteville square. The purpose of this workshop is:

• To solicit input from interested organizations on the key issues and barriers to the manufacture of low-cost RFID tags with reliable performance


• To prioritize and begin to define the pre-competitive research programs to be supported by the Consortium to address these issues


• To solicit membership in the Consortium by interested organizations


• To begin to define the mechanisms of interaction between the Consortium and its membership

I, Beast piece in Faculty Exhibition

I, Beast
Originally uploaded by thapgood.

The first piece in my RFID series goes into the University of Arkansas faculty exhibition next week. It's entitled "I, Beast" and is a poster series triptych. For the opening, I'll replace the three completed posters with three incomplete posters and project some animated elements onto the posters. There's a little jpg representation of the posters here.