This smart pistol only fires when in proximity to a RFID wristwatch

Detailed by the Washington Post earlier last week, the Armatix iP1 is a handgun that is only capable of firing when in range of the included waterproof wristwatch. Utilizing a RFID chip with a proximity of about ten inches, a light just above the grip will turn green when the gun is ready to fire. When the watch is more than ten inches away from the pistol, the light on the handgun will turn red and nothing will happen when the trigger is pulled. In addition to displaying the time, the watch also shows the charge level of the device, can be set for timed weapon deactivation and includes a PIN system for managing the weapon.

New Logo Identifies RFID Consortium Licensed Products

The RFID Consortium today debuted a new logo that identifies UHF RFID products manufactured and sold under a license for essential patents through the RFID Consortium. RFID Consortium members include: 3M ; ETRI ; LG Electronics ; Motorola Solutions ; Trimble Navigation Limited , ThingMagic Division ; and Zebra Technologies . The Consortium promotes rapid adoption of UHF RFID technology by offering a single license to those patents owned by the participating companies that are essential to the practice of the UHF RFID standards established by EPCglobal and ISO. Sisvel US, Inc. is the administrator of the licensing program.
"This new RFID Consortium logo will be used to identify UHF RFID products provided by companies licensed through the RFID Consortium," said Jim O'Hagan, a spokesperson for the RFID Consortium and Director of Patents and Technology for Zebra Technologies. "Displaying this logo on products or supporting documentation will make it easy for end users, distributors, systems integrators, and vendors to know that products they purchase are licensed through the RFID Consortium."
The concentric curves suggest the radio signal transmission and backscattered response signal used in radio frequency identification. Where color printing is not possible the logo will be used in black on white versions and reversed in white on black. Purchasers of UHF RFID products should look for the logo on products, packaging and accompanying documentation. The logo may be used by all UHF RFID Consortium licensees and should provide purchasers with peace of mind about their UHF RFID systems. "While use of the logo on UHF RFID products is only just beginning," says O'Hagan, "we expect wide adoption of this logo in the coming years."
Separately, the RFID Consortium announced that two additional companies have become licensees: Mojix, Inc. and Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. As the latest RFID Consortium patent portfolio licensees, these companies along with existing licensees, will be able to display and use the logo in connection with their UHF RFID products.

eAgile Awarded Patent for RFID Technology Breakthrough

eAgile, Inc. announced  the U.S. Patent Office has granted a patent for the company's eSync technology. eSync has been proven to solve many of the vexing problems which have plagued the RFID industry for years by identifying individual RFID tags then, in real time, uniquely encoding and validating data to a 99.9999% degree of accuracy. eSync provides the backbone for RFID systems where error-free tag encoding is crucial; even in high-speed, high volume processes where dense tag populations often contribute to undetected errors. "We have implemented eSync to produce millions of RFID tagged products and our clients are seeing quality levels greater than Six Sigma," stated Gary Burns, CEO of eAgile. "The technology has been extensively tested worldwide and has proven itself under the most demanding quality standards."

Omnience and Stark RFID Announce Strategic Partnership

Omnience Inc. and Stark RFID, an integrator of enterprise-level RFID solutions, today announce a long-term strategic and exclusive go-to-market relationship that will enable development of proprietary systems to more seamlessly track and measure the ROI of portfolios of large-scale marketing events, while creating efficiencies for corporate partners.
The new partnership will allow the companies to better serve its mutual customers by integrating real-time event attendee RFID tracking data into Omnience's proprietary tools that report on engagement. Together the technologies deliver big data in a meaningful way to large, Fortune 100 corporations which desire holistic visibility into the activities of event participants. Essentially, Stark RFID's customized software and hardware plus Omnience's technology closes the loop in measurement.

Royal Canadian Mint picks NFC for virtual currency pilot

The Royal Canadian Mint is piloting its MintChip digital currency in the cafeterias at its Ottawa and Winnipeg facilities — and is using NFC technology to enable employees to make purchases with the Bitcoin alternative. MintChip is designed to be a digital representation of money, sharing many of the same qualities as physical cash. Transactions are anonymous and almost instantaneous and should also be cheaper, the Mint says, because the cost of managing a digital currency would be lower than that of cash.

Are There Any Risk Factors Associated With RFID?

A study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and published in the HeartRhythm Journal in 2010, noted that interrogators of passive RFID tags could cause some electromagnetic interference to implantable pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), but that the devices posed no urgent health risks. The study's authors believed that the "continued proliferation of RFID without taking implantable pacemaker and ICD EMC into consideration could potentially cause clinically significant events for patients" (see Study Finds RFID Readers May Affect Pacemakers, But Pose No Urgent Risk).

Alibaba to Expand in Hong Kong with Smart Cards

In its latest step to expand and localize its services in those markets, Alibaba is making it possible for people in Hong Kong to shop on Taobao using the Octopus card, a smart card widely used in the city for everything from subway and bus rides to payments at stores and cinemas. There are more than 24 million Octopus cards and related products in circulation in the city, according to its operator Octopus Cards. By giving Hong Kong consumers the option of using a payment method they are already familiar with, Alibaba is trying to make Taobao more accessible and convenient.

PIN or Signature: Which Card is Smarter?

Smart cards — already used for credit transactions in about 130 countries — are coming to America. But it’s going to be several years before we all have these fraud-resistant items in our wallets. Which technology should new "smart cards" use? Some countries use chip-and-PIN, while others use chip-and-signature. The nation’s banks have slowly been issuing these new cards for a few years, but there's a new sense of urgency because of the recent rash of data breaches at Target and other retailers.

MLBAM completes initial iBeacon installations

MLBAM announced it has completed installation of Apple's iBeacon technology at the first two of more than 20 Major League Baseball ballparks that will use iBeacon technology for Opening Day of the 2014 season. With 65 iBeacons affixed throughout Petco Park and Dodger Stadium, the two ballparks have become the first sports venues in the world permanently equipped with iBeacon, a technology introduced with iOS 7 that uses Bluetooth Low Energy and geofencing for micro-location awareness. Baseball fans will be able to utilize iBeacon technology within MLB.com At The Ballpark when the award-winning app's 2014 update is released for Opening Day. Complete details on new features being developed by MLBAM for At The Ballpark, including iBeacon capabilities, will be available in March.

RFID Bikealarm scares off would-be bike thieves

Very little beats a sturdy U-lock for securing a bike. For when there's nothing available to which you can secure your bike, however, or if you just want a little extra security against anyone tampering with it, designer Dennis Siegel has devised a solution. The RFID Bikealarm attaches to your saddle and emits a 120dB alarm when it senses movement.  "The RFID Bikealarm is meant to be a useful add-on to mechanical bicycle locks because it massively extends the range of protection with only a few components," Siegel explains on his website. "It is low-cost, durable and easy to use."

New skills are needed to work on Internet of Things

The “Internet of Things” — technologists’ vision of a network of billions of connected devices — has attracted the attention of tech giants including Cisco, Intel and General Electric, all of whom have internal business units dedicated to building the infrastructure for that network. The market could also create demand for a new kind of IT specialist — those who can both engineer new products and process the data they collect, analysts and industry experts say.

Whether PIN or signature, smart cards are coming

Smart cards, already used for credit transactions in about 130 countries, are coming to America. But it will be years before we all have these fraud-resistant credit cards in our wallets. Though U.S. banks have been issuing the cards for a few years, the recent rash of data breaches at Target and other retailers has injected a sense of urgency into their efforts. The big question is what type of smart cards the banks will issue. Will they require a PIN code for authentication or simply a signature?

Sheep tag innovation could increase accuracy

Work to develop a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tag could help improve the accuracy of sheep identification compared to traditional EID tags, according to researchers. The ROSEI project, which is part of a €1.6m European initiative, aims to produce a RFID ear tag that will improve the probability of 100% accurate identification of sheep; something that is vital for food chain tracking and for farmers who are reliant on single-farm subsidies. Current EC legislation can be difficult to meet with the existing low-frequency (LF) identification systems, which reportedly only recall 90-95% of tagged sheep, say researchers. Any misidentified animals could result in a subsidy penalty.

Trimble Adds Ultra High-Frequency RFID to Juno T41 Rugged Handhelds

Trimble has introduced the Juno T41 rugged handheld computer with integrated Ultra-High Frequency RFID capabilities. In addition to high-speed 1D/2D barcode imaging technology, smartphone capability and enhanced, real-time 1-2 meter GPS accuracy, the Juno T41 series now offers new models that provide more functionality and configuration choices for data collection and mobile workforce management, Trimble said.
The RFID capability can be combined with Enhanced GPS and/or smartphone connectivity so customers can choose a specific handheld model that meets their needs.
The Juno T41 R will automatically recognize tags across a variety of frequencies and work with any size or style of RFID tag that is designed for customized solutions. UHF RFID is an increasingly commonplace technology using the 860 to 960 MHz frequency range.
Using the latest EPCglobal Gen 2 RFID technology from Trimble’s ThingMagic Division, the device uses two different antenna ranges to read or recognize the unique identification of an asset anywhere in the world.

OT Takes Part in NFC Launch in Russian Transportation with the Top 4 Mobile Operators

Oberthur Technologies announced its involvement as the supplier of the latest generation of high end NFC SIM card – “dragonFly”, in the first NFC commercial project jointly launched by top operators in Russia. The project concerns public transportation payments in Kazan, Russia. It is jointly implemented by the four top mobile operators, MTS, MegaFon, Vimpelcom and Rostelecom alongside the local transport system operator.
This NFC project has been launched in order to provide the city with a solution aimed at increasing the convenience of using public transport in Kazan, and to promote its use through the introduction of non-cash fare payment via a mobile phone. In addition to the transport ticketing service, some of the operators offer subscribers a combination of transport and payment services based on NFC technology. This brings NFC services in Russia to a new level: from a single NFC service to a multiple offering.
OT participates in this project as the sole supplier of NFC SIM cards in the first phase of project with embedded transport and payment applets. The electronic transport purse released on the SIM card is compatible with the current MIFARE-based ticketing solution “Transport Card”."
This initiative will enhance user experience by reducing queues and save time, for example when a ticket is purchased with cash. In addition, when paying a transport fare with a mobile phone, the purchase is made even easier for the subscriber as no other action needs to be completed after service activation, with all actions performed automatically.
OT was chosen for its leadership in innovation and in particular, in the field of NFC technology. It has the unique ability to quickly supply end-to-end solutions, from development and production to personalisation for both telecom and banking markets. This selection makes OT the first supplier to provide commercial volumes of NFC SIM cards to all four main telecom groups in Russia.

RFID Tags Track Marijuana From Seed to Sale, in Colorado

On New Years Day, Colorado became the first state to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana. The new legislation has provoked a Denver-bound flood of "Ganjapreneurs" and kickstarted what is sure to be a very profitable pot tourism trade.  Yet the business is far less hippie and far more button-down than it appears. The Colorado state government enforces the sale of marijuana with a set of regulations (500 pages in all) designed to shut out the black market. For one, it stipulates digital tracking of marijuana plants from seed to sale, using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

PPA gives up on its Smart Card system

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is abandoning its Smart Card pay system, leaving customers to pay with only cash or credit cards. PPA is losing money with the decade-old prepaid system, Corrine O'Connor, deputy executive director, said Tuesday. "It just wasn't really fiscally sound to keep in that type of business," she said. When the Smart Card system ends, customers can pay with cash or credit cards at the city's 1,023 parking kiosks. Coins will be the only form of payment accepted at the 6,000 meters that now take Smart Cards.

Folding-Carton Manufacturer Gains Visibility With RFID

Packaging manufacturer  Accord Carton is preparing to expand its RFID system that currently enables automatic identification of pallets loaded with its products as they move through a robotic storage system. With the RFID system—provided originally by Miles Technology, an RFID company that was acquired last year by Barcording Inc.—the company can identify when each pallet is loaded, sized and placed into or taken out of storage. The expansion, planned for later this year, consists of installing an RFID reader at the loading dock, in order to extend that visibility to the shipping of goods. With it, Accord Carton can prevent errors and gain a more detailed inventory of where each pallet is, and when, which it can also share with its customers.

BLE vs. NFC: The future of mobile consumer engagement

BLE and NFC each have several use cases, but they're not the same sort of use cases. Think of it this way: Cellular communications provide wireless coverage with a footprint measured in miles; WiFi's footprint is measured in yards; BLE's is measured in feet; and NFC's in centimeters. As this infographic illustrates, a BLE beacon is great for passively enabling a retailer's mobile app to deliver promotions, coupons or offers direct to the consumer's smartphone when the consumer is in the general vicinity. NFC can't do that. But if you want to research a specific Nikon SLR, for example, you can scan an NFC-enabled shelf tag next to it and study to your heart's content. BLE can't deliver that much location granularity.

RUD and its Customers Track Lifting Equipment With RFID

German lifting equipment and chain systems company RUD is inserting RFID transponders into all the products it makes, as well as providing access to data about each item for customers that wish to automatically track inspection, maintenance and other records. Ferrites and inductive components company Neosid is provided the tags, while RUD is using its own software for accessing data related to lifting products it makes. RUD has spent at least five years experimenting with RFID technology solutions that would enable it as well as its customers to better track the history of the steel chains, rings and links used for lifting heavy objects, but in the past two years has begun tagging all of its new products, and offering access to data about each item on a hosted server.

Barcode DJs Are Sound-Bombing Grocery Stores

Inspired by the incessant beeps of a cash register, Košice-based artist Jakub Pišek gathered his friends for a DIY grocery store performance called Barcode DJ. By scanning all kinds of stuff in the aisles while armed with a cart full of speakers, they make music by scanning barcodes. And they won’t leave the grocery store until the sound art is finished (that is, when they’re approached by store management).

Intersport Expects RFID to Boost Its Sales, Decrease Its Costs

Intersport Jan Bols, an athletic equipment and clothing store located in Hoogeveen, the Netherlands, reports that it has boosted sales and decreased inventory-tracking costs via a radio frequency identification solution that tracks approximately 10,000 items storewide, from the back room to the point of sale (POS). Based on the results of a two-month pilot at that store, Intersport International Corp., based in Switzerland, is now deploying the technology at 10 additional Intersport locations throughout the Netherlands. - See more at: http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?11417#sthash.CWWylHmD.dpuf

NFC-enabled iPhone case from Incipio now available at Verizon

Incipio has brought NFC to the iPhone in the form of its Cashwrap case for iPhone. Using this case, you can access the ISIS mobile payment system that many of the larger US carriers are behind, with AT&T announcing recently that it would carry the case. Verizon, not wanting to be left behind, announced that it too would be carrying the case so that its customers can get in on the fun, too. ISIS is a Google Wallet competitor that is backed by many of the major wireless players as well as credit card companies.

PDC and SHO Services to Exhibit RFID Solutions for Concerts and Live Events at the Pollstar Live! 2014 Trade Show and Conference

PDC, the global leader of innovative identification solutions, in partnership with SHO Services, an expert in event security, safety and risk management, announced today it will showcase its RFID solutions and consultation services at the Pollstar Live! 2014 trade show and conference in Booth #108-109 from Feb. 19 to 21, 2014, at the Omni Hotel in Nashville, TN. Pollstar Live! is an annual concert industry consortium where leading industry professionals gather to view the latest products, equipment and technology for the successful management of live events.
At Pollstar Live!, PDC will showcase its Smart Band RFID Wristband System that has helped hundreds of promoters and venue operators to enhance the guest experience and boost revenue by allowing guests to load funds onto their Smart Band® before an event, significantly increasing impulse purchases. Each Smart Band® is powered by a small RFID chip containing a unique code -- that when scanned and validated by a reader -- allows guests to have instant access to venues, make cashless purchases, and upload photos and videos to social media websites. The RFID technology in Smart Band® essentially terminates counterfeits, saving promoters revenue from look-alike wristbands deceiving event security. SHO Services, which specializes in implementing RFID credentials and applications for live events, will educate attendees on successful installation strategies.
Since its launch in 2001, PDC's Smart Band RFID Wristband System has been implemented at live entertainment venues across the globe as part of time-save applications that help redefine the guest experience, while reaping significant bottom line benefits to the venues that use them. Applications for Smart Band® include: cashless point-of-sale; cashless arcade and vending; social media integration; keyless hotel and locker access; electronic access control; photo management systems; and customer loyalty programs.

Mobeam and Clutch launch mobile wallet that beams barcodes to laser scanners

Mobeam and Clutch released the latest mobile wallet enabled with Mobeam's patented beaming technology. This new feature lets consumers use Mobeam's technology to beam barcodes from their loyalty, membership, and gift cards directly from their smartphone to any laser scanner. The beaming feature is available exclusively on two of the world's most popular phones, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. In the past month, Mobeam's beaming technology has driven close to 2 million shopping trips on over 25 million devices.
"The mobile shopping experience needs to be easy, simple and convenient for our customers," said Andy O'Dell, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Clutch. "Now that our Clutch app is enabled with Mobeam's beaming technology, consumers will be able to use gift cards, loyalty cards and coupons - anything that has a barcode - at the checkout line, right from their smartphone. Now consumers won't have to worry whether or not their merchant will be able to scan a card stored in Clutch, greatly enhancing the convenience of a mobile wallet and saving valuable time at the checkout."
Clutch eliminates the need for multiple apps, enabling consumers to manage gift and loyalty cards, daily deals, coupons, offer searches, purchases, shopping comparisons, social gifting and mobile payments all in one place. Clutch currently supports hundreds of leading brands and merchants and aggregates more than 100,000 deals, offers and rebates daily.
Mobeam's beaming technology, embedded in the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, solves the key problem that has limited the progress of mobile commerce: widely deployed retail laser scanners are unable to scan a barcode presented on a smartphone screen. Mobeam converts barcodes into beams of light that can be read by the tens of millions of laser scanners in use today by retailers worldwide. Samsung has said retailers prefer traditional barcodes, because they do not have to install any new infrastructure.

Firefly Legal Launches New Barcode Feature to Expedite Service

Process service leader Firefly Legal announced a major update to its document generation program. Now, all service related documents include a barcode that allows seamless electronic upload for a more efficient client experience.
The new feature tags all service related documents with a barcode, page numbers and detailed information about the file, including file number, reference number, case number and timestamp. The new coded documents can now be automatically uploaded to the correct spot within StatusPro, Firefly Legal’s industry-leading proprietary case management system. The bar codes will also automatically transfer data into Firefly’s document system—eliminating manual entry and assuring accuracy.
Firefly plans to support the new automation with its quality control department that will continue to monitor client files for accuracy and with audits of files before they are returned to clients.
“Many of Firefly’s clients are under deadlines and must comply with dates set by the courts. They require service to be effectuated within a limited time frame,” said Matt Massa, Vice President of Firefly Legal. “Our new document barcode feature benefits clients by making our own processes more efficient. When we’re more efficient, we’re able to sort through civil process service orders faster in the office—reducing the time necessary to complete the service.”
Firefly Legal is an innovator that has led technological advancements and improvements in the process service industry. The new barcode document upload feature is yet another way Firefly has leveraged technology to provide a seamless, informed, full-service client experience. To see other recent ways Firefly is harnessing technology to work smarter for clients, see ‘Seven Ways Firefly Legal Uses Technology to Innovate in Process Serving.’
Similar to the new barcodes, Firefly was the first major process server to modify its processes through technology to require only two copies of complaints when filing new cases with the court (one for Firefly and one for the court). Firefly also created a batch printing process that replicated and provided files for the precise number of defendants—an improvement that drastically reduced the amount of paper clients produced, thus saving clients time and money.

QR codes to be further rolled out by Pernod Ricard

The success of the launch in China has led the company to expand the quick response codes program. Pernod Ricard has announced that it intends to broaden its existing program of QR codes used to fight the problem of counterfeit products, sending it into the African and South American Markets. The company has previously enjoyed considerable successes following the program launch in China.

Global Aviation Maintenance Company Tracks Tools via RFID

A global aviation maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) company is using an RFID-based system from Italian IT services firm NG Way to ensure that tools employed for aircraft maintenance remain visible in the tool-management system, whether in storage or in use. While the misplacing of a tool is a rare occurrence, it can also be an expensive one, causing aircraft maintenance to be delayed for days or weeks until the missing asset can be found. That's because a loose object of any kind, located somewhere within the aircraft itself, can result in damage due to foreign object debris (FOD).

Sensors for home care will explode over the next five years

From 2000 - 2050, the proportion of the world's population aged 60 and over will grow from about 16% to 25% - an increase linked to a marked growth of chronic diseases (Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancers, etc.). Healthcare systems' rising costs and a physicians' shortage are paving the way for increased home care. Sensors previously developed for non-medical applications are transitioning to home care applications, and the market for sensors dedicated to home care applications is poised to grow from $559M in 2013 to $1.2B by 2018.

Today, the three most-used sensors are photodetectors, pressure sensors and electrochemical sensors.

A highly segmented market Home care, also called home healthcare, refers to the at-home care provided to a person with special needs. This includes people who are aging, chronically ill, recovering from surgery, or disabled.

Transferring a patient from a hospital to his/her home implies a relocation of care systems. In order to maintain the same level of care quality with less human involvement, home care sensors are vital replacements for specific applications ordinarily performed by nurses, such as guaranteeing the patient's comfort, ensuring their safety, monitoring body parameters and treatments, and drug delivery.

Paramilitary use RFID tags to recruit jawans

The recruitment procedure for jawans and other junior-rank officials in central paramilitary forces of the country is set for a change as the Union Home Ministry has decided to usher transparency in the process by using gadgets like CCTV cameras and RFID tags. The Ministry, which plans to recruit thousands of men and women in the ranks of Constables, Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors in the five large Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) -- CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB in the coming years, will take help of OMR sheets, RFID (Radio frequency identification) tags and CCTVs to electronically log every minute parameter of an individual who aspires to join the internal security duties being rendered by these forces

Digital payments on trial at eftpos

A digital payments technology on trial by eftpos would bring the payment provider into the online and mobile spaces for the first time. Coles, Commonwealth Bank and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank are also involved in the trial, eftpos said today. The trial includes “up to 50 merchants” and a “limited number of consumers across Australia,” eftpos CEO Bruce Mansfield said in a statement. The trial has several phases and is expected to continue in early 2014, eftpos said. Once validated in trials, eftpos plans to deploy the technology for industry participants connecting to the new eftpos Hub that was announced in October.

RFID-equipped workcell provides complete traceability

TECO Group’s home appliances division have begun to incorporate passive ultrahigh frequency RFID tags into their air conditioners. The launch this year follows a 2 year pilot that tracked 600 tagged air conditioners through assembly, distribution and purchase. What TECO are doing is not only using RFID to track an air conditioner though its assembly and distribution to provide supply chain visibility, but also using the RFID tag to collect data once it has been purchased about how it is operating. Each tag also serves as a 'black box', storing what has happened to the air conditioner to which it is attached, in the event that the unit malfunctions, as well as sharing error code information with maintenance personnel.

Apple's iBeacon Mobile Payment System Is Death Knell for NFC

While rivals Samsung, Google, Nokia and HTC all rushed to embrace NFC technology as a new way for users to make contactless payments, Apple has kept the industry wondering for the past two years, with at least one analyst predicting that Apple would turn to Bluetooth Low Energy instead of NFC. NFC enables smartphones and point-of-sale (POS) payment terminals to communicate at short range by being tapped together, using NFC tags and other small transmitters to send and receive information.

LS Research Expands RF Products division with new innovative Antenna solutions

LS Research, the global leader in Wireless Product Development, announces the addition of a new family of Antenna solutions to its RF Products portfolio. These new products were designed to help its customers address critical technical challenges traditional antenna products simply cannot meet.

The flagship product of LS Research's Antenna family is the new FlexPIFA Antenna.  This industry-first design offers an unmatched solution for applications where traditional antennas struggle to perform.  The FlexPIFA Antenna with adhesive backing is designed to perform on curved surfaces, enabling simple installation and improved performance in a wide range of enclosures, such as wearable technologies.  Additionally, when placed in close proximity to the human body or metal, it can perform significantly better than other antennas currently on the market. 

"With more and more interest in the space of wearable technologies, companies looking to bring such products to market realize it's critical to have both the form factor and performance customers demand," said Bill Steinike, President of LS Research.  "The new FlexPIFA™ brings a unique solution to help ensure strong antenna performance even when placed close to the human body or in the presence of metals."

In addition to the FlexPIFA, LS Research also announces a new flexible notch antenna, called the FlexNotch.  This solution also provides flexibility and ease in placing the antenna within confined spaces.  For custom applications, the designer can quickly test and optimize the antenna's performance by simply cutting the length of the antenna. 

The family of Antenna solutions also includes a number of traditional dipole antennas, as well as a brand-new series of waterproof dipole antennas to expand the usefulness of such products in a broader range of applications than ever before.

LS Research is a trusted source for wireless design that also provides custom antenna design services, turnkey product development, and on-site EMC certification and testing.  In 2013, LS Research also launched the Antenna Shop, providing a comprehensive approach to custom design, testing, and certification of antenna projects.  LS Research will continue to add off-the-shelf Antenna solutions to its technology portfolio, utilizing innovative design approaches to better meet customers' real-world challenges. 

Cubic Wins “Best Smartcard Ticketing Service” at 2014 MasterCard Transport Ticketing Awards

Cubic Transportation Systems was recognized last week for making life easier for Sussex commuters on the London to Brighton route. Recognizing its work with Southern Railway’s “the key” ITSO travelcard, Cubic was named as the “Best Smartcard Ticketing Service” provider at the 2014 MasterCard Transport Ticketing Awards.
Cubic’s work enables passengers to travel with “the key” ITSO smart cards at stations on the Southern network, stretching from Brighton to London. Passengers can now “touch in” and “touch out” using “the key” cards at 30 major Southern stations outside London, including Brighton and Gatwick Airport. In addition, Southern Railway customers can also use the gate terminals at Transport for London (TfL) managed destinations at London Victoria, London Bridge, Clapham Junction and East Croydon.
New gate lines or gate-free smart card validators are now installed at all Southern Railway and TfL-owned London stations. Cubic and Southern are continuing to work together to enable Southern passengers to load their travel cards and season tickets onto their “the key” cards. During the next stage of the project, Cubic will deploy ITSO technology onto the remaining Oyster overground gate estate. Eventually, all London Underground stations and all London buses will be able to accept ITSO smart cards.

RedBite Plans Launch of Cloud-based Solution for Managing RFID Data

British RFID software firm RedBite Solutions says it plans to launch a cloud-based service intended to make the installation of a radio frequency identification solution fast and simple, requiring no more than an RFID reader embedded with RedBite software and access to the Internet. RedBite will also offer an application programming interface (API) to enable users to integrate RFID data with their own software. The solution is being rolled out by an international intergovernmental postal organization, in scores of offices throughout the world, and is being used to track tagged items moving through those locations. - See more at: http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?11390#sthash.TJfIgStj.dpuf

QR codes enhance College Athletic Department

Emerson College has become the latest educational institution to discover the practical benefits of using QR codes, as their Athletic Department has now implemented them to help to reduce the need for printing out programs. As smartphones and tablets have become very common, so have quick response code scans. This has allowed organizations such as marketers, brands, and even schools to be able to use QR codes to bridge the gap between the real world and the digital one. Often, this provides access to media that could not be displayed in the real world – such as videos in areas without a screen – and can reduce the need for printed materials because they can be accessed right away by scanning the barcode.

Aviation MRO Service Prevents Foreign Object Damage With RFID Tool Management

An international aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider is successfully avoiding foreign object damage caused by tools because of its new RFID-enabled tool tracking system. A leading aviation MRO services provider with facilities in Europe and the U.S. has implemented an RFID tool tracking system from Xerafy and NG Way for foreign object damage (FOD) prevention.
Unattended tools are a leading source of foreign object damage, which costs the aerospace industry an estimated $4 billion annually, Boeing has reported the cost to repair a single engine that is damaged as a result of a foreign object can easily exceed $1 billion, FOD can also cause injuries and damage to airport facilities and support equipment.
An international aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider is successfully avoiding foreign object damage caused by tools because of its new RFID-enabled tool tracking system. The system uses XS Series Dot-On and Dash-On read-on-metal UHG RFID tags from Xerafy embedded into tools, plus handheld RFID readers and NG Way’s ToolCheck software to record which tools are assigned to technicians, track tool locations and to verify that no tools are left behind when maintenance activity is completed.
The company wishes to remain anonymous because it considers its processes to be a strong competitive advantage. The company has received Part-145 Maintenance Organisation Approval certification from the European Aviation Space Agency (EASA). Companies must develop and document quality processes and submit a Maintenance Organization Exposition (MOE) to earn EASA Part-145 status.