RFID’s Tagging the World
As microchip technology continues to become smaller and less expensive, engineers are finding an infinite number of applications for these versatile devices. Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID) are the latest information storage microchip in research today. RFID microchips store information, which are read by transmitting low frequency radio waves to special scanners and machines that are more advanced. This technology, which was first used for package tracking and later for animal safety, is now becoming available for human use. The information stored can be accessed when scanned by special readers, making the data readily available. In a medical emergency, a patient with an RFID tag can be scanned for instant medical history, making safer treatment faster. This exciting new application of RFID technology is the future of medical databases. It has the potential to allow authorized readers to obtain official information. With continuous research and experimentation to make these devices as secure, safe, and convenient as they can be, they will have a positive impact in our future.
On September 11, 2001, hundreds of firefighters and other rescue personnel lost their lives trying to find survivors in the World Trade Centers. Aware that they may not make it out safely, many of the rescuers wrote their badge id numbers on their chests so that they could later be identified. Forensic dentists worked alongside forensic pathologists, anthropologists, fingerprint specialists, funeral directors, mental health professionals and morgue personnel to identify the victims in the weeks and months after September 11. After this tragic day, it became apparent that a convenient identification device needed to be created for such emergencies. VeriChip, the leading company in implantable Radio Frequency Identification tags, was founded in December 2001 with a mission to make the lives of people safer by implanting his or her...