20-30 years ago there wasn't a barcoded item to be found ,
today you can hardly find a product bought without a barcode on it .
RFID is very simliar to the barcode with some very distinct differences .
#1 RFID does not have to be directly pointed at the item to be able to read the
coded information
#2 RFID tags can hold much more information than barcodes
#3 RFID tags can be distinguished from one another
#4 RFID tags can be re-used or re -coded to be used again and again or even
coded for a different item than before
With Barcodes each item with a barcode is exactly the same as other items with
the same barcode.
One bottle of soda is the very same as the next bottle in the barcode world .
With RFID each bottle of soda has a unique ID
the barcode says : this is a bottle of soda
the RFID tag says: this is THIS bottle of soda
if you can't see the barcode as the item is walking out the door the item is
stolen
with RFID we don't need to see the item , the item's RFID tag will alert
management as the RFID tags passes the RFID system monitoring the store.
Barcode printed information is fixed
and never changes .
once the barcode or barcoded label is printed it can not be changed .
RFID information can be re-programmed or updated even while out in the field .
RFID tags can record and store data such as exposure to temperature, time spent
on a shelf
