RFID is still "hot"

After almost fifteenth (15th) month of research, I have had reached to a preliminary analysis that RFID is still a hot topic.

Much of the progress and developments in RFID are surrounded by commercial and technological incentives. It is arguably a "commodotised technology". The world today, by way of economy's segregation, (The United States of America, The Euro zone and the emerging markets) have deployed RFID applications in many ways. Mostly, give benefits and yielded dividends to large companies and organisations which have the budget. Although recession took place in 2010 and silently taking place (to date) in some continents, the prediction on RFID applications' deployable expansion remains bullish. 

Interestingly, the European Union is very active to map a possible roadmap for RFID and its growth by 2020. The East Asia technological leaders - South Korea, Taiwan and Japan - by far, have been leading the game (in terms of the deployment). China, had handsomely deployed her RFID applications in the most spectacular Olympic games of 2008 in Beijing (through the enabled RFID ticket applications). It is predicted that London 2012, will anticipate to deploy the similar move. Not only deploying selected RFID applications, but also to potentially extend the technological infrastructure capacity through cloud computing (the Cloud).

Much of the global's progress in RFID is still segmented through the continents. Several issues are still being discussed at the higher level (means: policy, strategy and government). Three (3) issues are of relevance; firstly, interoperability. Secondly, standardisation and thirdly, data protection and privacy. Of course, there are other contributing and pressing issues that may add to the list. Nonetheless, by way of priority, the aforementioned issues are of significance that demand urging progress. 

In the leading RFID Journal and other RFID Service Providers' write ups and marketing collateral's -  they have had marketed sophisticated RFID applications to its existing customers and potential customers. The features seem to be appealing especially to the stakeholders that have benefited from its applications. These groups are merely tagged as the RFID-proponent. To the contrary, RFID-opponent seems to be quite quiet to demand for more awareness of this technology. Back 2002-2006, the push by public policy and civil liberties' groups in the US were so powerful. Now, the voices are less being heard. Maybe (arguendo), this is due to the other pressing issues that canvassed the US today. The developments in the European Union (EU) are largely still, at a higher level. In review of the EU's efforts, there is minimal progress that takes place. The recent one is the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party in relation to the Privacy Impact Assessment's response by the industries and stakeholders with regards to RFID. Although the responses seem to be a turning point for such a progress, however, it is submitted that much needs to be done not only at the EU level, but also, between and amongst the 27 Member States.

Across Asia; China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore have had gradually deployed and realised the importance of RFID. Out of these countries, taking Malaysia as example, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has had issued an RFID survey to the stakeholders. Upon perusing the survey, it is adduced that it aims to gauge the technical understanding and perceptions only towards RFID, but lacks the data protection and privacy bit. Perhaps, MCMC would be able to issue another round of survey that touches the stakeholders' perceptions on RFID, Data Protection and Privacy.

As issues on RFID are still hot, I predict these will emerge in 2011:

1) That the EU's RFID progress will take its aggressive mode once the review of the European Commission's Data Protection Directive has completed. This means, once the revised European Directive 95/46/EC takes place, the Article 29 Working Party and related Directives will take RFID into a more serious tone/level;

2) That the RFID's standardisation and interoperability needs active involvement not only from the EU level, but also other international organisations such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This prediction is based on the possibility that Mobile-RFID will boom and penetrate the market on gradual growth (by 2020); and

3) That the RFID's discussion from the perspectives of data protection and privacy are still important. Although there are such RFID technical guidance, codes, regulations and best practices, but, the efforts need to be beefed up. Especially, when the booming of cloud computing business takes place. This means data that are retained and kept in the RFID Service Provider or a Data Controller's server may also be parked and retained in the Cloud. Hence, issues of data protection, privacy and contractual liabilities may also arise.

RFID indeed, is still relevant and a "hot" topic, and will promise more progress in 2011 and the years ahead!