RFID Retail Interaction

Mitsukoshi, a Japanese department store, has released an RFID-interactive shopping experience in their womans shoe department. To keep everyone on the same page, RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification Tag. Basically, when an RFID chip is passed near a reader, it broadcasts a string of data, most often an identification number. Due to its small size, RFID is commonly used in inventory tracking applications, as as a pet-identification implant. Following a designer jean store, each shoe has a tag with an RFID chip embedded. A touch screen computer with an RFID reader is positioned in the middle of the department. A customer can take a desired shoe to the computer, scan the tag, and be presented with a list of sizes and colors in stock, or similar styles. Salespeople carry handheld devices with similar software.

RFID tags are found in EZpass devices, all new United States passports, and implanted in VIP clubgoers in Barcelona and Rotterdam allowing them to identify themselves and pay for drinks. While RFID has found many applications, it is wonderful to see applications where the end user is responsible for and aware of its use.

via( PingMag )

also see:
Wikipedia: RFID
Mitsukoshi

more RFID to come!