RFID in Japan

Computerworld reports:

A location-based services trial that will see a famous Tokyo neighborhood blanketed with about 10,000 RFID tags and other beacons got its start earlier this month.

That'll be in Ginza.

via

photos 1 2

According to Nikkei, Fujitsu Software Technologies developed a device that integrates an active RFID tag and a GPS receiver. It will likely cost about 20,000 JPY (about $170) each. The GPS component of the tag first detects its location with the accuracy of 3-5m and then sends out the location data along with its unique ID to an RFID reader. It uses the 429MHz frequency band and the communication range is about 200m. These tags could be used to track cars in a large car dealer shop, etc.

via nikkei with a photo

RISK Digest reports

Malaysia's government, hoping to thwart car thieves, will embed license plates with microchips containing information about the vehicle and its owner, a news report said Saturday.

via

Sounds like an interesting topic.

Green RFID Guy

My PingMag article on Mitsukoshi RFID project is up. So, check it out. I took a bunch of photos. Yeah, that's Tokyo's cool bilingual online magazine!

http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/12/15/mitsukoshi-case-interaction-design-for-rfid-retail/

Sounds like an interesting project...

Fish Olympics is an RFID-enabled interactive installation for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach that enables participants to construct a fish by assembling parts from various fish in the Tropical section of the aquarium. They then have the opportunity to pit their fish against the fish of others in various tests of prowess and survival.

via

thanks regine!