A color-coded QR code system to fight the coronavirus allows people to travel freely or forces them to self-quarantine

China is set to soon assign citizens QR codes that will indicate whether they’re at risk of contracting the new coronavirus and need to self-quarantine. Millions of people in Hangzhou, the city southwest of Shanghai where this system has already started, have effectively been guinea pigs for the new system that some people say has introduced both solutions and new problems for life during the Covid-19 outbreak. The coronavirus has upended life in China, and a hodgepodge of policies from different organizations has made it difficult for people to get around cities. The new QR code system is meant to ease this pain point by helping people easily show whether they’re at risk or not. But some people, like Hangzhou resident Kaikai Shi, have doubts about how well the system achieves its goal.

Healthcare RFID Market Technology Helps to Enables Better Communication, Adequate Patient Monitoring

The healthcare radiofrequency identification (RFID) market was evaluated at USD 1,154 million in 2017 and can achieve a CAGR of 23.37% during the forecast period (2018-2023), states Market Research Future (MRFR).

High operational costs in the healthcare industry boost the adoption of RFID technology within healthcare organizations. Medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and various other healthcare organizations extensively use this technology to curb inventory costs. RFID technology allows organizations to efficiently manage inventory and also helps prevent stock out and overstock situations. RFID tags aid the surgical staff to easily track medical devices used in operation theatres, which enhances patient safety. Growing need to reduce operating costs fuel the adoption rate of RFID. This technology also finds use in blood banks, pathology labs and laboratories for better workflow management and efficient product tracking.

RFID technology gives rise to sufficient patient monitoring, better communication, patient identification, as well as patient tracking. This helps in bringing down medication errors and elevate safety. Thus, the growing need for patient monitoring and mandates to elevate safety contribute to market growth.

Chevron lets drivers pay with Venmo at the pump

Chevron has added support for PayPal’s Venmo P2P payments service to its Chevron and Texaco mobile apps, making it possible for drivers to share or split their fuel purchases with passengers. “Chevron updated its branded mobile applications to offer consumers access to Venmo to pay for fuel and car washes at the pump from their mobile devices,” says Chevron’s Bill Miner. “Enabling Venmo as a payment method within our app is key in our quest to help create a new fuelling experience for consumers,” Miner explains.

Hot Wheels brings its NFC-enabled stat-tracker to even more toys this year

For stats-obsessed kids, last year's release of Hot Wheels ID was a godsend. The NFC-based system let you scan your cars into the app to keep tabs on how fast and how far the cars in your collection had traveled. And it definitely solved the problem of figuring out who won a race. But it wasn't cheap, and there was limited compatibility with Hot Wheels' existing orange track system. In 2020 the brand has a few expansions in the works for Hot Wheels ID that should place it in reach for a lot more toy car racing fans.

California Update: New QR Code Certificate Requirements

On February 13, 2020, The Bureau of Cannabis Control’s (BCC) emergency rulemaking for Quick Response Code (QR Code) certificate requirements was approved by the Office of Administrative Law. The new rules are effective immediately. The new rules require licensed commercial cannabis storefront retailers to prominently display their QR Code certificate on their premises. The new rules also requires licensed commercial cannabis distributor and delivery employees to carry a copy of the QR Code certificate while transporting or delivering commercial cannabis goods.

Small RFID Reader Enables Store Interaction

Multiple retailers are leveraging a variety of handheld readers to capture item-level RFID tag reads for inventory management in stores. The readers have a relatively long read range and can be easily carried around stores when employees count stock. However, when it comes to serving customers, sales associates are unlikely to have such handheld devices available, so opportunities to benefit from RFID tag reads could thus be missed. That's the problem solutions provider Infinite Peripherals says it is targeting with its new product, the MaglinQ—a small RFID reader with a built-in 1D and 2D barcode scanner that connects to a smartphone's OtterBox and thereby enables employees to carry the device with them as they help shoppers find the products they seek.

USDA to offer new RFID ear tags for calves

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin offering the option of no-cost Radio Frequency Identification ear tags to veterinarians and producers for use in young beef, dairy or bison breeding replacements. The Animal Health Division of the Colorado Department of Agriculture will be responsible for distributing the no-cost RFID tags in Colorado and is finalizing a process to respond to RFID tag orders from cattle or bison producers and veterinarians.  The no-cost RFID tags are expected to be available for distribution in late March or April of 2020.

QR code trip passes available for multiple trips on Airport metro line in New Delhi

From Monday onwards passengers using the Airport Express line of Delhi Metro will be able to use the QR or quick response code generated on their smart phones for multiple journeys, instead of purchasing or recharging their passes at ticketing counters. According to a statement issued by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), with the introduction of this new facility commuter who used trip passes on the Airport line, akin to smart cards used on other metro lines, can now use the QR code generated on their phones to make multiple trips.

Fiserv Teams Up with Visa, Samsung, PayCore to Test Using Smartphones as PIN-Entry Devices for Retail Payments

Fiserv has teamed up with Visa, Samsung and PayCore in order to test the use of consumer-grade smartphones as PIN-entry devices for retail sales transactions.

The new capability can be accessed through an app that may be downloaded to Samsung mobile devices. It allows retailers to process PIN-based contactless payments without requiring a PIN-entry device or separate card reader.

The SoftPOS system uses near-field communication (NFC) functionality in a vendor’s mobile phone or tablet computer to allow them to take payments from contactless cards and NFC-enabled handsets and wearables.

The new capability has completed its security testing phase. The product is now being tested in Poland, with plans to introduce it in Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions.

Avery Dennison Announces Brazil RFID Manufacturing Facility

Avery Dennison is gearing up for the future growth of RFID technology, improving the efficiency of processes and the relationship between brands. Just months after signing a deal to acquire Smartrac's transponder division, the company announced the location of its next RFID manufacturing facility – its first in Brazil and fifth in the world. The new factory will be located in Vinhedo (SP), opening in 2021.

Working Group Planning Open IoT Standard

The Eclipse Foundation, an Internet of Things (IoT) open-source software organization, has formed a new working group for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), consisting of end users and technology companies. This open-source group is focused on the Sparkplug specification to make IIoT deployments interoperable for companies in the oil and gas, energy and manufacturing sectors, as well as other industrial sites, and for smart cities.

China seeks help of tech giants to track coronavirus with QR codes

Alipay, the payment app operated by Alibaba's financial division Ant Financial, released a feature in collaboration with the government that assigns a coloured QR code representing the health of residents in Hangzhou.

Users in the city fill out an online form reporting their ID number, whether they have travelled outside Hangzhou recently, and any symptoms they might have that suggest an illness, such as fever or a heavy cough.

Generate 3D Printable QR Codes With This Web Tool

Since most people are carrying a camera-equipped computer in their pockets these days, QR codes can be a great way to easily share short snippets of information. You can put one on your business card so people can quickly access your contact information, or on your living room wall with your network’s SSID and encryption key. The design of QR codes also make them well suited to 3D printing, and thanks to a new web-based tool, you can generate your own custom STL in seconds. Created by Felix Stein, the website provides an easy to use interface for the many options possible with QR codes. Obviously you have full control over the actual content of the code, be it a simple URL or a something more specific like a pre-formatted SMS message. But you can also tweak physical parameters like size and thickness.

QR code scams on the rise

With the explosion of smartphones and multiple modes of payment through apps on the rise, scamsters have found innovative methods to trick gullible consumers. The latest one is faking the popular Quick Response (QR) Codes to extract money fraudulently. A software engineer in Thiruvanmiyur placed an advertisement to sell his washing machine. He was approached by a person posing as a buyer who offered ₹16,000.

Chrome 81 brings NFC to mobile web apps

Google has announced that Chrome 81 beta brings support for web NFC to mobile devices. In other words, web apps can utilize the NFC hardware in your smartphone — although it’s up to developers to actually create web apps that take advantage of the new tools.

Ceramics Company Gains Efficiency With RFID

Porto Brasil Cerâmica, located in the Brazilian city of Porto Ferreira, maintains a stock of more than 980,000 ceramic items. The company reports that it has reduced the amount of time required for employees to count items on pallets from 40 minutes down to three, just three months after installing a radio frequency identification solution. The system was provided by iTag, and though the gains that the company has achieved with its new processes have not yet been measured, executives have already noticed that the company now has greater control of its inventory.

Apple Pay and QR codes see restaurants with Clover POS encourage customers to ‘dine ‘n dash’

POS service Clover is out with a neat new solution for quick and secure payments at restaurants that leverages QR codes and Apple Pay. Scan to Pay lets customers seamlessly pay on iPhone without having to download an app or hand over their cards to servers. And the feature sounds like a win for restaurant owners and employees with tables turning faster and more.

With Scan to Pay, guests use their iPhone camera to scan a Clover-generated QR code at the bottom of their receipt to pay their restaurant bill with Apple Pay. This saves time for both the guest and the server by eliminating the need for the guest to give their credit card to the server and for the server to take the card to the point of sale, process the transaction, and return for a signature.

Low-cost “smart” diaper can notify caregiver when it’s wet

For some infants, a wet diaper is cause for an instant, vociferous demand to be changed, while other babies may be unfazed and happy to haul around the damp cargo for lengthy periods without complaint. But if worn too long, a wet diaper can cause painful rashes, and miserable babies — and parents. Now MIT researchers have developed a “smart” diaper embedded with a moisture sensor that can alert a caregiver when a diaper is wet. When the sensor detects dampness in the diaper, it sends a signal to a nearby receiver, which in turn can send a notification to a smartphone or computer.

Apple Pay is on pace to account for 10% of all global card transactions

Apple’s mobile wallet is gobbling up a growing chunk of card payments around the world. As the service grows, it’s becoming a greater challenge to rivals like PayPal and attracting the attention of competition watchdogs. Apple Pay accounts for about 5% of global card transactions and is on pace to handle 1-in-10 such payments by 2025, according to recent trend data compiled by Bernstein, a research firm. “There are indeed plenty of reasons to worry that Apple may attempt to disrupt the payments ecosystem,” Bernstein analysts, led by Harshita Rawat, wrote in a research note.

RFID Tag Tracks Tools in Real Time

You know that torque wrench you misplace on a regular basis? You’d have better luck keeping track of it if it were equipped with Murata Electronics’ LXTBKZMCMG-010 RFID tag, which is designed to be placed directly on metal objects, such as surgical tools. The solution can be incorporated into any device’s tool tracking system to quickly determine a specific item’s usage and warranty status, and to assign user accountability. These features help improve loss prevention, eliminate time searching for specific tools, and provide real-time data analytics to key stakeholders such as operations, plant managers, or users in the field.

The Little-Known Story of the Birth of the QR Code

People are increasingly turning to QR codes to access information, and, more recently, pay for goods and services. The technology was the brainchild of an engineer at Aichi-based manufacturer Denso. Denso engineer Hara Masahiro invented the QR code 25 years ago. The division where he worked was subsequently split off into a subsidiary named Denso Wave, where he now holds the post of chief engineer.

South Dakota State University rolls out iPhone NFC IDs

South Dakota State University students, faculty and staff are now able to add their MyJacks ID cards to their iPhone or Apple Watch and then use their mobile phone or wearable to make on-campus payments and gain access to residence halls and other facilities. “This next-generation credential will benefit SDSU students by eliminating the need to carry and manage multiple credentials or payment methods when trying to navigate the campus environment,” the university says.

How to easily share Wi-Fi networks using QR code

It is very important that one uses a strong Wi-Fi password for their home or office network which is a mix of alphabets and numbers. However, a complex password can become a headache when you have guests over at your place and they want to use your Wi-Fi network. This does not mean you should use a weak Wi-Fi password to avoid such situations though. In other cases, there is a possibility that your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network whose password you don't remember or have access to but would want your friends or family to join it. For such situations, Android 10 introduces a handy option of sharing a Wi-Fi network using QR codes. This QR code can then be scanned by any smartphone to join the Wi-Fi network.

RFID lawsuit: Gotta have it or make it stop?

The US Dept. of Agriculture filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the agency’s plant to implement a livestock traceability program using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. But lawyers for the plaintiffs want the court to hear the case. In its motion to dismiss the lawsuit, USDA argued that the specific agency action that prompted the lawsuit was withdrawn and therefore should be dismissed as moot. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIS) of USDA planned to transition cattle and bison producers to RFID tags from metal ear tags for cattle and bison. The agency intended to discontinue providing free metal ear tags starting Dec. 31, 2019.

Sugi NFC crypto hardware card and wallet adds support for Ripple (XRP)

Sugi, an NFC crypto hardware card with wallet app, announced it has added support for Ripple (XRP). Users are now able to hold, send and receive XRP. With Sugi, users securely sign transactions by tapping the card to their NFC-enabled phone. Consisting of a card and mobile wallet app as its interface, the card communicates with the mobile wallet using NFC technology (contactless payments). The card holds a special key in the secure element that allows users to conduct transactions on multiple blockchain networks. The key is protected by a unique PIN known only to the cardholder.

All Valid PAL Cards Now Officially Smart Cards

All valid Powered Access Licence (PAL) Cards issued by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) to MEWP and MCWP operators in circulation worldwide are now Smart cards, as since January 2015 all cards issued by the global PAL Card processing team at IPAF’s head office in Cumbria, UK, have been Smart-capable.

The use of Smart technology was mandated by IPAF from 1 January 2015 to help prevent fraud, misuse and to interact with security, telematics and tracking systems on machines themselves to ensure only authorised, qualified and correctly familiarised personnel are able to operate Smart-enabled and compatible machines. As all PAL Card training must be refreshed or renewed at least every five years, it now stands that no cards issued pre-1 January 2015 will still be valid in the world today.

Global mobile payment technology market size is expected to reach US$ 50.56 Bn by 2026

Global mobile payment technology market size is expected to reach US$ 50.56 Bn by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of 39.8% from 2018 to 2026, according to new research.

NFC segment is anticipated to boost mobile payment technology market on account of NFC enabled smartphones. Various applications pertaining to mobile payment technology are BFSI, retail, healthcare, entertainment, IT and telecom, energy & utilities, hospitality & tourism, and others. Increasing adoption of mobile payments in the banking sector is expected to boost BFSI’s share in the estimated timeframe.

Mobile wallets dominated the mobile payment technology market. Increasing penetration of digitalization. Mobile wallets are a relatively new payment option that can offer some serious benefits. Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pal works across all major devices. Mobile wallet reduces fraud and reduces content in the wallet. Other popular wallet apps are retailer or brand specific, such as Wal-Mart stores, Walmart pay, capital one financial corporation’s (COF) Capital One Wallet and the ubiquitous Starbucks wallet app from Starbucks Corporation (SBUX).

Touch ‘n Go RFID tag fitment will cost RM35 from Feb 15

Touch ‘n Go has announced that from Feb 15, its RFID tags will be priced at RM35 for purchase at fitment centres nationwide. Currently, the RFID tag fees are waived as part of a pilot programme to encourage sign-ups that began in 2018. The RM35 purchase comes with a free first-time replacement on the same vehicle for when users need to get a new RFID tag. Touch ‘n Go chief executive officer Syahrunizam Samsudin said the company has invested in one million TNG RFID tags for Malaysians during the pilot programme for the past 18 months.

Kensington Integrates Identiv's Smart Card Reader Technology Into Its BlackBelt Rugged Case

Identiv, Inc. announced it has partnered with Kensington to embed secure authentication technology into its BlackBelt Rugged Case for the Microsoft Surface Pro and Microsoft Surface Go.

The Kensington BlackBelt Rugged Case adds security, protection, and convenience to Microsoft Surface Pro and Microsoft Surface Go devices, their data, and the users’ network. The case incorporates an integrated FIPS 201-compliant smart card reader module developed by Identiv to help simplify logins and prevent unauthorized access to data on devices or private networks. Additional features of the combined solution include military-grade drop protection, a protective camera cover, openings for the kickstand and all I/O ports, cable lock compatibility, a self-adjusting hand strap, and Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance.

Identiv’s uTrust Smart Card Reader Module Contact Family (2500 R and 2500 F) is the ideal design for a wide range of embedded applications. Providing full compliance with all major industry standards — including ISO/IEC 7816, USB CCID, PC/SC, and Microsoft WHQL — uTrust 2500 R and 2500 F work seamlessly with virtually all contact smart cards and PC operating systems. Full compliance with EMV 2011 and GSA FIPS 201 expand daily use to very specific applications requiring additional security and data protection.

RFID and the melon traceability system

The melon traceability system is dependent on the adoption of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, which is a noncontact automatic identification communication technology that can identify multiple, high-speed moving objects simultaneously in most environmental conditions. This technology has been widely used throughout the agriculture supply chain, with broadest adoption in the livestock industry. It has been successfully implemented in vertically integrated supply chains to track and monitor food from producer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer.

Commuters still prefer tokens to Chennai Metro Rail’s Smart Cards

Four years after the opening of the first stretch of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), as the system witnesses a steady increase in ridership, one clear trend that has emerged is that there are more one-time users of the system, especially to travel to one of the city’s transport hubs. The CMRL mass rapid transit system was inaugurated in June 2015. Commuters can use tokens like tickets, or purchase Smart Cards that can be recharged and swiped before and after the journey. Apart from this, there are monthly passes (trip cards) and group tickets, but most passengers opt for either Smart Cards or tokens. Data gathered by The Hindu shows that from 2015, till the end of 2019, the number of tokens sold each year has been several times higher than the number of Smart Cards sold.

The Difference Between NFC vs. RFID

RFID uses electromagnetic fields to track tags that can be attached to objects, such as service parts or smartphones. If that seems like familiar technology, that’s because it is. RFID still operates in a similar way. One of the key differences is being able to manipulate frequencies to achieve different goals. Two of the most popular forms of RFID are NFC and RAIN RFID. At 13.56 megahertz, NFC is a high-frequency RFID, while RAIN (whose acronym — a nod to its reach into the cloud — derives from “RAdio frequency IdentificatioN”) is an ultrahigh-frequency RFID operating between 860 and 960MHz.

Apple lays groundwork to use iPhone as a car key via NFC

Apple is seemingly taking the first steps to making an iPhone or Apple Watch function as a key for a car or van, with the presence of references to a CarKey API within the first iOS 13.4 beta indicating it could be used to unlock or even start a vehicle. In terms of what the CarKey API could do, it is thought its capabilities would include unlocking a vehicle, locking it, and starting the car.

Next-Gen Payment Technologies Will Be Omnipresent by Device and App

The amount of commerce conducted online has grown dramatically in recent years. The use of a mobile phone and other untethered devices to conduct commerce is a natural extension of the online commerce evolution. A vast majority of these transactions rely upon some form of account settlement that usually involves credit or debit cards, checking/ACH, or bank money transfer.

Mobile payment systems rely upon the use of an account system, which requires funding that can come from many different sources including a bank account, credit/debit card system, or a mobile wallet, which may be funded by various means.

Mobile payments are experiencing rapid growth as consumers use wireless devices as part of modern dynamic lifestyles. Many merchants increasingly support and encourage mobile payments because they are quick, easy, and linked to existing, well-known financial processing systems. The use of mobile payments represents an alternative to cash, cards, and even funds within the banking system. This is especially the case in developing countries where current banking services cannot reach and/or have limited access.

The unbanked population refers to the section of the population that doesn't have any relationship with normal banking services; they don't have savings or checking accounts. The main reason for the existence of the unbanked population is low income. Underbanked population refers to the section of the population that have banking a relationship (checking or saving account), but use an alternative method of financial interaction rather than payments through their banking accounts.

Economic challenges are persistent in developing countries with great variation between different countries. In India for example, the unbanked population resides mostly in rural areas, spread over large a wide area in a number of villages. This unbanked population is often poor, and hence the transactions performed through mobile banking solutions tend to be low value, as compared to metropolitan areas.

In terms of payment models, the bank-centric method, in which traditional financial institutions are relied upon for clearing and settlement, is rapidly being replaced by various third-parties in a more decentralized model that at times may involve settlement by non-financial service providers, or on a peer basis, and/or a collaborative model. The latter model is comprised of collaboration among banks, mobile operators and other stakeholders in the mobile payments value chain, including a potential trusted third party that manages the deployment of mobile applications.

While technologies used for mobile payments vary considerably, all provide solutions that provide ease of use for both remote transactions (e.g. not at the point of sale) as well as contactless payments for proximity-based payments. One such technology used for localized mobile payments is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) approach referred to as Near Field Communications (NFC).

NFC payment solutions enable commerce world-wide. Consumers don't have to carry a wallet, cash, credit cards, debit cards, and they don't need a mail routing box to receive plastic cards and bills. Increasingly, mobile phones include built-in NFC technology to interact with other mobile phones with NFC technology in addition to retail point-of-sale terminals, digital signage and vending machines that dispense tickets, mobile devices, soft drinks, sunscreen, and toys. NFC is a successful technology for high-speed high-volume applications that is well-suited to consumer payments, especially micro-payments.

Lao Central Bank Launches QR Code Payment Standard

The QR code payment standard will minimise the use of cash, drive Laos towards a digital economy,  and boost socio-economic development. The BOL (Bank of Lao PDR) has reportedly announced the soft launch of a new QR code standard for payments, which it says will lead to faster and safer services in payments and integration with banks. The new QR code system follows the 2018 establishment of a dedicated Payment Systems Department to focus on payments management and ensure the new system is compliant with regulatory and legal requirements.

Under Armour: RFID Is a 'Must Have'

Radio frequency identification is essential technology for Under Armour moving forward. That was the message Kathleen Joyce, Under Armour's lead for global inventory control, delivered during a panel discussion sponsored by Nedap Retail at the National Retail Federation (NRF)'s Big Show (see The View from NRF's Big Show 2020 and RFID at NRF's Big Show 2020). "We don't really see this as a 'nice to have'," Joyce stated during the panel discussion. "It's really a 'must have' to get you to the next level. We know it's coming, and we are on board."

LibreOffice 6.4 offers QR code generator

The Document Foundation has unveiled LibreOffice 6.4 64-bit and LibreOffice 6.4 32-bit, its popular open-source office suite for Windows, Mac and Linux. LibreOffice 6.4 is a major point release and comes with the promise of improved performance along with several new universal features and the usual mix of minor changes and improvements to individual applications within the suite. LibreOffice’s Start Center adds application icons alongside document thumbnails to help users differentiate between document types, while the suite benefits from a new QR Code generator, which allows users to add mobile-friendly codes to their documents.

All Delhi railway coaches, wagons to be RFID tagged and tracked by 2021

Around 3,50,000 coaches and wagons of the railways in New Delhi will be RFID tagged and tracked by 2021 and the cost of the project will be around Rs 112 crore, a senior official said Wednesday. Till now approximately 22,000 wagons and 1200 coaches have been fitted with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, said Rajesh Agarwal, member, Rolling Stock, Railway Board.

Self-service smart card machines to go live at GTR

Govia Thameslink Railway passengers will be able to obtain the operator’s ITSO-compliant The Key smart cards through self-service vending machines from February 3. Paragon ID has supplied GTR with 12 free-standing kiosks which have been installed at selected stations outside London. Passengers will use a 19 inch outdoor-readable touch screen to enter their details to register for The Key, which the machine will then issue on the spot.

VerifyMe Granted Patent for Invisible QR Code System from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

VerifyMe, Inc., a digital technology solutions provider specializing in counterfeit prevention, authentication, serialization, track and trace features for labels, packaging and products, is pleased to announce that its invisible QR code system was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

The RainbowSecure marking system is an invisible covert serialization and authentication solution, deployed through variable digital printing on HP Indigo printing systems. Its system is comprised with integrated dual authentication and tracking with VeriPAS Software. Its Invisible Authentication Ink provides invisible marking and serialization solutions in stopping product diverters and counterfeiters in their tracks.

 It is smartphone-enabled for quick and easy checks in the field and powered by an advanced GS-1 compliant cloud-based track and trace software system. VeriPAS Mobile Authentication and Tracking combines the power of RainbowSecure invisible marking with cloud-based authentication and tracking.