RFID Tags

In class on Tuesday, we got into a discussion about RFID tags and how they can be implemented into business. One of the scenarios that was brought up was putting these tags in items at stores. The positives noted were that it would help avoid any mis-labeling by a worker resulting in an incorrect price when scanned, they could create programmable shopping lists down the road that link up with the RFID tags that alert people when they pass an item, and also it can help prevent theft by putting scanners by each entrance.

One of the problems with all of this that came up was what was to happen with these tags after the purchase is made? Can anyone on the streets scan your house with a device and find out all of the goods you possess in your home? One solution to this problem was to somehow make the RFID tag deactivate once it has been scanned and purchased at the store, eliminating the ability of people to scan your goods. The problem with that idea is that if someone wanted to return the item, the tag would be expired and it would complicate the process.

My solution to this problem came to me when I thought of something we learned much earlier in class. How about stores put an encryption on their RFID tags that only that specific store holds the key to and implement that technology into the tags. That way, not only can people off the streets not be able to scan your items, but stores can be sure that the item that the customer is trying to return was purchased from their store. Just a thought.