Jim, an observation about this from a bird's eye view, but I see RFID as
just another step in the development of tech-devices for input/data
acquisition. In essence, it works like a barcode scanner. Yes, it
capabilities are different from barcode-scanning, but at the fundamental
level, it's just a means to get data from the "real world" into the
system.
I don't if that helps, but using this same line of reasoning, I was able
to help some decision-makers in our Lab Animal Care Unit avoid being
blinded by the RFID hype. They were melding the data-acquisition
hardware with the application software, items which, logically speaking,
are certainly able to be uncoupled. In any industry where vertical
applications are common and even key to operations, I think some vendors
present their offerings in this way. In fact, one (un-named) vendor was
really pushing RFID for animal care and inventory management. They were
trying to integrate in a somewhat proprietary fashion animal housing
units ("cages") with RFID (tags and scanner/monitoring hardware) and
their in-house vertical app' for animal inventory and care management.
To be honest, although the big-picture idea is inarguably a good one, I
shared with our internal clients these conclusions:
1 - The total price was very high.
2 - RFID hardware and tags, even ones that survive being autoclaved,
are available from multiple HARDWARE vendors.
3 - As a strategic principle, avoid proprietary implementations as much
as possible, unless some huge value can be demonstrated for so doing.
4 - The software was immature both in function and reliability. This,
to me, was the real kicker. It seemed to prove that a main objective of
their demonstration was to obfuscate the distinction between the RFID
hardware and the software, as well as the "integration" with their
animal-housing products. I saw this as tantamount to saying, "OUR
application will only work with OUR RFID hardware and, since YOU already
buy OUR animal cages, OUR WAY IS THE ONLY WAY."
BTW, I have no problems with the concept or benefits of RFID. However,
for now, our LACU folks have chosen to go forward with a system that
utilizes barcode-scanning as its primary mode for data-acquisition from
the "real world", with an open mind to RFID as a future input option.
This route, for now, offers us a better value proposition.
HTH,
Steve in Memphis
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gross,
Jim
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 6:16am 06:16
To: RBASE-L Mailing List
Subject: [RBASE-L] - RFID
To All
Healthcare and other industries have mobile equipment requiring periodic
safety checks, service and other activities. Locating these items to
perform periodic maintenance or safety checks consumes precious
productive time that could be used elsewhere. Has anyone integrated RFID
with an RBase application?
Jim Gross
Director of Facilities Engineering
Noyes Hospital
