rfid in pervasive computing: State-of-the-art and outlook

rfid has already found its way into a variety of large scale applications and arguably it is already one of themost successful technologies in the history of computing. Beyond doubt, rfid is an effective automatic identification technology for a variety of objects including natural, manufactured and handmade artifacts; humans and other species; locations; and increasingly media content and mobile services. In this survey we consider developments towards establishing rfid as the cost-effective technical solution for the development of open, shared, universal pervasive computing infrastructures and look ahead to its future. In particular, we discuss the ingredients of current large scale applications; the role of network services to provide complete systems; privacy and security implications; and how rfid is helping prototype emerging pervasive computing applications. We conclude by identifying common trends in the new applications of rfid and ask questions related to sustainable universal deployment of this technology. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ‘‘Evidently, considerable research and development work has to be done before the remaining basic problems in reflected-power communication are solved, and before the field of useful applications is explored.’’ Harry Stockman in ‘‘Communication by Means of Reflected Power’’ (1948)