RFID in Japan

Something unique happening outside Japan/Asia -- There's an interesting RFID event that will take place on May 20 in Germany: "How I Learned to Love RFID"

The series of lectures brings together approaches and projects that artistically and critically deal with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology - a technology that is significantly being developed and advanced by companies and research institutes in Dortmund.

Speakers include Bruce Sterling, Rena Tangens, Rob van Kranenburg, Wolfgang Lammers, Rasa Smite, Raitis Smits, Honor Harger, Adam Hyde.

more info (in German)

Another important event of course is the Mediamatic workshop "RFID & the Internet of Things." This one's taking place on May 9-11 in Amsterdam. Regine (of wmmna) is speaking at the workshop. That's cool.

At the Retailtech Japan 2006 expo, which took place in Tokyo on March 7 and will last till March 10, RFID is again featured at many exhibition areas.

There is an exhibition area for METI's Future Store Project and they show Okaimono Navi Cart, Smart Shelf for RFID'd Jeans, and Express POS (simultaneously reads multiple RFID tags attached to sales items in a shopping basket). They are also showing a robot called enon that is currently tested at Jusco Yachiyo Midorigaoka Store (i.e., the store where Okaimono Navi Cart is used. ) This looks different than the other shopping assistant robot in Fukuoka. eon assists people with directions and partol offices anc shopping facilities.

[enon. via Fujitsu Press release]