Researchers at Hitachi in Japan have apparently created super small RFID tags that are smaller than a grain of sand. This ‘radio dust’ as it’s being called can be used to tag just about anything with a unique 38 digit identifier code, which will broadcast when requested by a nearby reader. Scary stuff actually. Look out for it in 2009 or thereabouts.
The so-called powder chip is thin enough that it can be mixed with paper pulp to add a layer of counterfeit protection to gift certificates, passports and currency. It’s also caught the interest of the jewelry industry, which could invisibly embed the chip in rings and necklaces to track their origins, making them more difficult to sell illegally. Each chip stores a unique 38-digit ID number. When stimulated by an RFID reader, the chip emits its code, verifying its identity. The code is integrated into the chip’s circuitry, making counterfeiting impossible.
RFID tags
rfid