I recently went to a seminar on wireless technologies to explore some ideas to implement on the network that I help maintain. During discussions, we looked at the topic of wireless tagging.

Active wireless tagging is becoming a common way to track the location and activity of mobile devices within the network by using triangulation via multiple wireless APs. For instance, a tag could be put on a mobile projector stand and then the stand could be tracked to determine where it has been and where it is currently stored for both locating purposes and usage statistics. An active wireless tag utilizes a power source (i.e. batteries) to broadcast its location constantly.

This led to a bit of a side discussion. A logical question to ask is, is there passive wireless tagging? The answer I found quite interesting.

In short, yes, there is passive wireless tracking. It is basically a very small device that has no active power source. However, when it gets near something called an Exciter, it gets just enough energy to transmit its unique identifier, notifying the Exciter (and whomever controls that Exciter) that the tag has come within close proximity of the Exciter.

Walmart is currently utilizing this technology in its stores in much the same way they have discussed wanting to utilize nanotechnology. They place a very small tag on each item that they sell. This tag has a passive tracking device installed within it. On the front end, they give this a very logical explanation. It makes inventory analysis very easy. When a truck is unloaded, an Exciter just inside of the loading dock area detects every item that passes through and automatically logs its presence inside of the store. They are scanned again as they moved out onto the floor of the store to be put on the shelves, and the database checks it off when the product walks out the door. This allows the store personnel to know exactly how many items they have in stock, how many are out on the shelves, and when they have to restock the shelves, or order more of that item. What they fail to mention is that, as long as that tag remains on the product, it remains trackable. So, for instance, if a person went in, purchased a shirt, and wore it into Walmart the next time they went shopping, Walmart could potentially utilize the tag still on that shirt as a tracking utility. This kind of technology has the potential of collecting exponentially more customer sales information then any of those plastic cards that all other stores seem to be jumping to. Furthermore, with the aggressive sales tactics that Walmart is known for using, I cannot see them missing this opportunity.

...it sometimes makes me wonder if those guys that put foil hats on their heads might have the right idea...

I know I haven't been posting in a while, and I truely hope that I still have a few people who still check this blog from time to time. There is something very scary going on right now. The current House and Senate just proved that they are pro net policing. They just shot down a bill that would protect the current neutrality of the internet, banning ISPs from controlling the locations their subscribers can go. For instance, Comcast can ban its customers from using Vonage or accessing the Verizon website in order to push their phone services. Oh, and if you want to have full access to the internet, that is possible as long as you pay for it...but you didn't want your first born anyways!

I strongly urge you to visit and pass on this link: http://www.savetheinternet.com/.

Sign up for the petition, voice your opinion, get our representitives on the ball, and save our internet!

Yes, I bought an imac...and I love it! Its sleak, stylish design makes for easy desk placement and usablity. The 17" wide-screen is crystal clear. I purchased a gig of memory, 260gb of HD space, and opted not to go with the wireless keyboard/mouse setup in order to get my Mighty Mouse. The Intel Core Duo processor rocks. I'm a bit of a World of Warcraft geek now, and the game runs flawlessly. I have always been hesitent to purchase a mac for software title availabilty issues, and cost differences. This mac, though, was the same price as a similarly equipt PC with similar software titles and a compairible high-quality monitor. My new mac, however, looks so much better and with the new processor, most vendors now find it easy to come out with multi-platform software that works seemlessly with either Mac or Windows. Between this and my new 30gig video ipod, I'm in hog heaven :D