Chapter 26: The Durability Problem | Summary | Every technology that connects the physical world to the digital world must survive the physical world first. A barcode is a pattern of ink printed on paper, plastic, or metal. It is cheap, universal, and remarkably effective, but it is also fragile. A scratch, a smear of grease, a folded corner, or a splash of water can turn a perfectly readable barcode into a useless smudge. RFID tags, by contrast, can be sealed inside hard plastic, embedded in rubber, sewn into fabric, or potted in epoxy. They can survive heat, cold, chemicals, abrasion, and years of rough handling. This chapter explores the durability problem in depth. It examines why barcodes fail, how RFID tags are made rugged, and how different industries choose between the two technologies based on the harshness of their environments. From hospital sterilization rooms to oil rigs, from livestock ears to airline baggage systems, the story of durability is the story of where each technology can go and what it can survive. The chapter concludes with a detailed summary of the key lessons and trade-offs. | 
| The Fragile Miracle | The barcode is one of the most successful technologies in human history. It is hard to imagine modern retail, logistics, or healthcare without it. A barcode is essentially a printed language of lines and spaces. A scanner shines light on it, reads the pattern of reflections, and converts that pattern into numbers and letters. The simplicity is its genius. You can print a barcode on a piece of paper for a fraction of a cent. You can print millions of them in minutes. You can put them on almost anything. | But that simplicity comes with a fundamental weakness. The barcode is only as good as the surface it is printed on and the ink that forms it. If the surface is damaged, the barcode is damaged. If the ink fades, the barcode fades. If the label peels off, the barcode is gone. In the quiet network that maps the physical world, barcodes are the delicate butterflies. They are beautiful and useful, but they do not survive a storm. | Consider a simple example. A grocery store sells a carton of milk. The barcode is printed on the carton. The carton sits in a refrigerator. Condensation forms on the surface. The ink smudges. The cashier tries to scan it. Nothing happens. The cashier types the numbers manually. The line grows longer. The milk is still fine, but the barcode is dead. This is a minor inconvenience in a supermarket. But in a hospital, a failed barcode on a blood bag can be a matter of life and death. In a factory, a failed barcode on a part can halt an assembly line. In a warehouse, a failed barcode on a pallet can send a shipment to the wrong country. | The durability problem is not just about scratches. It is about the entire lifecycle of an object. A barcode must survive printing, handling, storage, transportation, use, and disposal. It must survive heat, cold, moisture, chemicals, sunlight, abrasion, and time. In many environments, it simply cannot. | 
| How Barcodes Fail | To understand why RFID tags are often the better choice for harsh environments, we must first understand exactly how barcodes fail. The failure modes are many, and they are relentless. | The first and most obvious failure is physical damage. A barcode is a thin layer of ink on a surface. If that surface is scratched, the ink is removed. If the surface is bent, the ink may crack. If the surface is torn, the barcode is torn. In a warehouse, boxes are stacked, dropped, and dragged. A barcode on the side of a box can be scraped against a metal rack. In a hospital, a barcode on a wristband can be rubbed against bed rails. In a library, a barcode on a book can be worn down by years of handling. Physical damage is the most common cause of barcode failure. | The second failure is contamination. Barcodes rely on contrast. The scanner needs to see dark bars against a light background. If the barcode is covered with grease, oil, dirt, dust, or blood, the contrast is reduced. The scanner may not be able to read the pattern. In a restaurant kitchen, a barcode on a food container can be covered with sauce. In a garage, a barcode on a car part can be covered with oil. In a farm, a barcode on a feed bag can be covered with mud. Contamination is a constant enemy of barcodes. | The third failure is environmental exposure. Ultraviolet light from the sun can fade ink. Moisture can cause paper to swell and ink to run. Extreme heat can cause labels to curl or melt. Extreme cold can make labels brittle and prone to cracking. In outdoor environments, barcodes on signs, poles, and containers can become unreadable in a matter of months. In freezers, barcodes on frozen food can become covered with frost. In sterilization rooms, barcodes on surgical instruments can be destroyed by steam and chemicals. | The fourth failure is mechanical wear. Barcodes on moving parts, such as conveyor belts or rotating equipment, can be worn away by friction. Barcodes on items that are handled frequently, such as rental cars or power tools, can be rubbed off by hands. Barcodes on items that are washed, such as reusable containers or uniforms, can be faded by detergent and water. | The fifth failure is label adhesion. A barcode is often printed on a label that is attached to an object with adhesive. If the adhesive fails, the label falls off. If the label is applied to a dirty or oily surface, it may not stick at all. If the label is applied to a curved or flexible surface, it may peel away over time. In cold or wet conditions, adhesive can lose its grip. In hot conditions, adhesive can become gooey and slide off. | The sixth failure is printing quality. A barcode must be printed with precision. If the bars are too thin, too thick, too close together, or too far apart, the scanner may not read it. If the ink is too light or too dark, the contrast may be insufficient. If the printer is dirty or out of calibration, the barcode may be malformed. Poor printing quality can make a barcode unreadable from the moment it is created. | The seventh failure is damage during scanning itself. A scanner may be dropped on a barcode. A scanner may be pressed too hard against a barcode. A scanner may be used with a damaged lens or a dead battery. In some cases, the act of scanning can damage the barcode, especially if the barcode is on a soft or delicate surface. | These failure modes are not independent. They often combine. A barcode in a warehouse might be scratched, covered in dust, and exposed to moisture. A barcode on a surgical instrument might be contaminated with blood, exposed to steam, and rubbed against other instruments. The more failure modes that are present, the more likely the barcode is to fail. | 
| The Rise of Rugged RFID | RFID tags are not inherently indestructible. A basic RFID tag is a small chip attached to an antenna, often mounted on a thin plastic film. If you bend it too much, it can break. If you expose it to extreme heat, it can fail. If you submerge it in water, it may not work. But unlike barcodes, RFID tags can be easily encapsulated in protective materials. This is the key difference. A barcode is a surface pattern. An RFID tag is a component. You can build a barcode into a tough material, but you cannot easily protect the ink itself. You can build an RFID tag into a tough material, and the tag will continue to work. | The most common way to make an RFID tag rugged is to encapsulate it in plastic. The tag is placed inside a mold, and molten plastic is injected around it. When the plastic cools, the tag is sealed inside a solid block. This is called overmolding. Overmolded RFID tags can be extremely tough. They can be dropped, stepped on, run over, and thrown. They can be submerged in water, oil, and chemicals. They can be exposed to extreme temperatures. They can be used for years in the harshest environments. | Another method is to embed the tag in epoxy. Epoxy is a two-part resin that hardens into a strong, chemically resistant solid. RFID tags embedded in epoxy are often used in industrial settings. They can be attached to metal parts, embedded in concrete, or used in underground pipes. Epoxy provides excellent protection against moisture, chemicals, and impact. | A third method is to seal the tag in a hard plastic shell. The shell is often made of polycarbonate, ABS, or nylon. The tag is placed inside the shell, and the shell is sealed with ultrasonic welding or adhesive. This is common for RFID tags that are used on assets like tools, containers, and pallets. The shell can be designed with mounting holes, adhesive backing, or straps. | A fourth method is to use a flexible but tough material, such as polyurethane or silicone. These materials can bend and flex without breaking. They are often used for RFID tags that are attached to curved surfaces, such as pipes, cables, or tires. They can also be used for wearable RFID tags, such as wristbands or ankle bands. | A fifth method is to use a ceramic or glass capsule. These are small, cylindrical tags that are injected under the skin of animals or embedded in concrete. The ceramic or glass protects the tag from moisture, chemicals, and physical damage. These tags are often used for livestock identification and for tracking valuable assets. | A sixth method is to use a metal tag. Some RFID tags are designed to be mounted on metal surfaces. These tags often use a spacer or a special antenna design to prevent the metal from interfering with the radio signal. The tag itself can be encased in a metal housing, which provides excellent protection against impact and chemicals. Metal tags are common in oil and gas, construction, and heavy manufacturing. | A seventh method is to use a woven or embroidered tag. RFID threads can be woven directly into fabric. The fabric protects the tag from abrasion and moisture. This is used for uniforms, linens, and other textiles that are washed frequently. The tag can survive hundreds of industrial wash cycles. | These encapsulation methods are not mutually exclusive. A tag can be overmolded and then placed in a metal housing. A tag can be embedded in epoxy and then covered with a plastic shell. The goal is always the same: to create a barrier between the delicate electronics and the harsh outside world. | 
| Why Durability Matters in Different Industries | The durability problem is not abstract. It has real consequences in every industry that uses automatic identification. The choice between barcodes and RFID is often determined by the environment in which the technology must operate. In some industries, barcodes are perfectly adequate. In others, they are a constant source of frustration and failure. Let us look at several industries in detail. | 
| Retail | Retail is the birthplace of the barcode. The first barcode was scanned on a pack of Wrigley's gum in 1974. Since then, barcodes have become ubiquitous in stores. They are used for checkout, inventory, and price lookup. In a typical retail environment, barcodes work well. The store is climate-controlled. The products are handled gently. The barcodes are printed on clean, dry packaging. The scanners are well maintained. The failure rate is low. | But even in retail, durability can be a problem. Consider a few examples. A grocery store sells fresh produce. The barcode is on a sticker attached to the fruit. The sticker can fall off. The fruit can be wet. The sticker can be damaged by handling. The cashier must type in the code manually. This slows down the checkout line. A clothing store sells shirts. The barcode is on a tag attached to the shirt. The tag can be torn off. The barcode can be folded or crumpled. The customer can remove the tag before bringing the shirt to the register. The cashier must look up the price. A hardware store sells loose screws and bolts. The barcode is on a bin. The bin can be damaged. The barcode can be covered with dust. The customer can put the wrong item in the bin. The cashier must guess the price. | These are minor problems, but they add up. Retailers lose billions of dollars every year due to inventory inaccuracy, and barcode failure is a contributing factor. RFID tags are increasingly used in retail to solve these problems. An RFID tag can be embedded in a price tag, a label, or even the product itself. It can be read without line of sight. It can be read through packaging. It can be read in bulk. It can survive handling, moisture, and dust. In a clothing store, an RFID tag can be attached to a garment and survive the entire lifecycle, from manufacture to sale. In a grocery store, an RFID tag can be attached to a reusable container and survive hundreds of trips. In a hardware store, an RFID tag can be attached to a bin and survive years of use. | But RFID is not free. An RFID tag costs more than a barcode. For low-value items, the cost may be prohibitive. For high-value items, the cost is easily justified. The durability of RFID tags is one of the main reasons they are adopted in retail. A barcode on a pair of jeans may last a few weeks. An RFID tag on a pair of jeans can last for years. | 
| Healthcare | Healthcare is an environment where durability is critical. Hospitals are full of liquids, chemicals, and sharp objects. They are also full of regulations. Patient safety depends on accurate identification. A barcode on a patient wristband must survive hand washing, bed baths, and frequent handling. A barcode on a medication label must survive refrigeration, condensation, and handling by nurses and pharmacists. A barcode on a surgical instrument must survive sterilization, which often involves high heat, steam, and harsh chemicals. | Barcodes are widely used in healthcare, but they fail frequently. A wristband barcode can become smudged or torn. A medication label can become wet or faded. A surgical instrument barcode can be destroyed by the sterilization process. When a barcode fails, clinicians must resort to manual entry, which takes time and introduces errors. In a busy hospital, a few seconds of delay can be a matter of life and death. | RFID tags are increasingly used in healthcare to overcome these limitations. An RFID wristband can be sealed in a plastic or silicone band. It can survive hand washing, bed baths, and even swimming. It can be read without line of sight, so the nurse does not have to find the barcode and scan it. An RFID tag on a medication vial can be embedded in the label or the cap. It can survive refrigeration and condensation. An RFID tag on a surgical instrument can be embedded in the metal or sealed in a ceramic capsule. It can survive autoclaving, which involves temperatures of 270 degrees Fahrenheit and high-pressure steam. It can be read through a sterilization pouch. | In one hospital, RFID tags were used to track surgical sponges. A barcode on a sponge would not survive the blood and moisture of surgery. An RFID tag embedded in the sponge can be detected even if the sponge is left inside a patient. This is a life-saving application of durability. In another hospital, RFID tags were used to track blood bags. A barcode on a blood bag can be damaged by condensation and handling. An RFID tag can be read through the bag and can survive the entire blood supply chain, from donor to recipient. | 
| Manufacturing | Manufacturing is a tough environment for any identification technology. Factories are full of heat, chemicals, vibration, and impact. Parts are moved, machined, welded, painted, and assembled. A barcode on a part may not survive even the first step of the manufacturing process. It may be covered with oil, scratched by a robot, or baked in an oven. In some factories, barcodes are applied after the manufacturing process is complete, which means they cannot be used to track the part during production. This limits their usefulness. | RFID tags are often used in manufacturing because they can be embedded in the part itself. A metal part can have an RFID tag embedded in a recess. A plastic part can have an RFID tag overmolded into the plastic. A composite part can have an RFID tag layered between the plies. The tag becomes a permanent part of the object. It can survive the entire manufacturing process. It can be read at every stage, from raw material to finished product. It can even be read after the product is sold, which enables new services such as maintenance and warranty tracking. | In the automotive industry, RFID tags are used to track engines, transmissions, and other major components. A barcode would not survive the paint shop, where temperatures can reach 400 degrees Fahrenheit. An RFID tag can be designed to withstand these temperatures. It can be read after painting, after assembly, and after the car is on the road. In the aerospace industry, RFID tags are used to track parts that must be traced for safety. A barcode on a turbine blade would not survive the heat and stress of operation. An RFID tag can be embedded in the blade and can be read throughout its life. | In the electronics industry, RFID tags are used to track printed circuit boards. A barcode on a circuit board can be damaged by soldering, cleaning, and handling. An RFID tag can be embedded in the board and can survive the entire assembly process. It can be used to store test data, firmware versions, and other information. This is a powerful example of how durability enables new capabilities. | 
| Logistics and Warehousing | Logistics and warehousing are all about moving things. Boxes, pallets, containers, and vehicles are constantly in motion. They are stacked, dropped, dragged, and exposed to the elements. A barcode on a box may survive a short trip across a warehouse floor, but it may not survive a trip across the ocean. A barcode on a pallet may be damaged by the forklift that picks it up. A barcode on a container may be covered with salt spray and dirt. | RFID tags are increasingly used in logistics because they can survive the journey. A pallet can have an RFID tag embedded in the wood or plastic. It can be read by a forklift equipped with an RFID reader, without the driver having to get out of the cab. A container can have an RFID tag mounted on the door. It can be read by a crane or a gate reader as the container is loaded or unloaded. A box can have an RFID tag on the label. It can be read in bulk, without opening the box or scanning each item individually. | In the cold chain, RFID tags are used to track temperature-sensitive products such as vaccines, blood, and frozen food. A barcode on a vaccine vial can be damaged by frost and condensation. An RFID tag can be sealed in a plastic shell and can survive the cold. It can also be equipped with a temperature sensor, so it can record the temperature history of the product. This is a durability feature that barcodes cannot match. | In the postal service, RFID tags are used to track mail and packages. A barcode on a package can be torn or smudged. An RFID tag can be embedded in the label and can be read automatically as the package moves through the sorting facility. This speeds up delivery and reduces errors. | 
| Agriculture and Livestock | Agriculture is an outdoor industry. Farmers work in sun, rain, dust, and mud. Equipment is exposed to the elements. Animals roam freely. Barcodes are used in agriculture, but they are often impractical. A barcode on a feed bag can be ruined by rain. A barcode on a tractor can be covered with mud. A barcode on a cow can be torn off by a branch. | RFID tags are widely used in agriculture because they can survive the environment. A livestock ear tag can be made of hard plastic and can survive years of sun, rain, and mud. It can be read from a distance, so the farmer does not have to catch the animal. A rumen bolus is an RFID tag that is swallowed by the animal and stays in its stomach for life. It cannot be lost or damaged. A microchip is an RFID tag that is injected under the skin of a pet or livestock animal. It can be read by a scanner and can provide permanent identification. | In crop farming, RFID tags are used to track seeds, fertilizers, and produce. A barcode on a seed bag can be damaged by moisture. An RFID tag can be sealed in a plastic tag and can survive the field. In greenhouses, RFID tags are used to track plants and pots. A barcode on a pot can be faded by water and sunlight. An RFID tag can be embedded in the pot and can survive for years. | In forestry, RFID tags are used to track logs and timber. A barcode on a log can be damaged by the chainsaw, the skidder, and the weather. An RFID tag can be hammered into the end of the log and can survive the entire journey from forest to sawmill. | 
| Oil and Gas | Oil and gas is one of the harshest industries on the planet. Equipment is exposed to high pressure, high temperature, corrosive chemicals, and extreme weather. Barcodes are almost useless in this environment. A barcode on a pipe can be destroyed by the heat of the well. A barcode on a valve can be covered with oil and grease. A barcode on a drilling rig can be ripped off by the wind. | RFID tags are used in oil and gas because they can be built to survive. A tag can be encased in stainless steel and mounted on a pipe. It can be read by a handheld reader or a fixed reader. It can store information about the pipe, such as its grade, its pressure rating, and its inspection history. A tag can be embedded in a drill pipe and can survive the extreme conditions of drilling. It can be read at the surface and can provide data about the drill string. A tag can be attached to a gas cylinder and can survive the filling process. It can be used to track the cylinder and ensure that it is not overfilled. | In refineries, RFID tags are used to track valves, pumps, and other equipment. A barcode on a pump can be covered with oil and dirt. An RFID tag can be sealed in a metal housing and can be read through the grime. It can be used to store maintenance records and to ensure that the right parts are used. | 
| Construction | Construction sites are chaotic. Materials are stored outdoors. Equipment is used in dust, mud, and rain. Barcodes on construction materials are often damaged before they are even installed. A barcode on a concrete block can be worn off by handling. A barcode on a steel beam can be covered with rust. A barcode on a tool can be lost in the mud. | RFID tags are used in construction to track materials and tools. A tag can be embedded in a concrete block and can survive the pouring and curing process. It can be read later to identify the block and to verify its strength. A tag can be welded to a steel beam and can survive the life of the building. It can be used to store information about the beam, such as its grade and its inspection history. A tag can be attached to a tool and can survive the rough handling of a construction site. It can be used to track the tool and to prevent theft. | In infrastructure, RFID tags are used to track pipes, cables, and other buried assets. A barcode on a buried pipe would be destroyed by the soil and moisture. An RFID tag can be sealed in a tough plastic or ceramic capsule and can be read from the surface. It can be used to locate the pipe and to store information about its condition. | 
| Transportation | Transportation is all about moving people and goods. Vehicles are exposed to weather, vibration, and impact. Barcodes on vehicles are often damaged by dirt, sun, and collisions. A barcode on a truck can be covered with mud. A barcode on a train can be damaged by the wind. A barcode on an airplane can be damaged by the cold and the pressure. | RFID tags are used in transportation to track vehicles and cargo. A tag can be mounted on a truck and can be read by a toll booth or a weigh station. It can be used to pay tolls, to track the truck, and to monitor its condition. A tag can be mounted on a train car and can be read by a trackside reader. It can be used to track the car and to route it correctly. A tag can be mounted on an airplane part and can be read by a maintenance scanner. It can be used to track the part and to ensure that it is airworthy. | In airline baggage handling, RFID tags are used to track bags. A barcode on a bag tag can be torn or smudged. An RFID tag can be embedded in the bag tag and can be read automatically as the bag moves through the system. This reduces the number of lost bags and improves customer satisfaction. | 
| Waste Management | Waste management is a dirty business. Garbage trucks, bins, and landfills are full of moisture, chemicals, and sharp objects. Barcodes on bins are often damaged by the garbage, the weather, and the truck. A barcode on a bin can be covered with food waste. A barcode on a truck can be covered with mud. | RFID tags are used in waste management to track bins and trucks. A tag can be embedded in a bin and can survive the harsh environment. It can be read by a reader on the truck as the bin is emptied. It can be used to identify the bin, to track its location, and to bill the customer. A tag can be mounted on a truck and can be read by a gate reader at the landfill. It can be used to track the truck and to measure its load. | 
| The Cost of Durability | Durability is not free. A rugged RFID tag costs more than a barcode. The materials are more expensive. The manufacturing process is more complex. The testing is more rigorous. A barcode can cost less than a cent. A rugged RFID tag can cost several dollars. For low-value items, the cost of a rugged RFID tag may be more than the value of the item itself. This is why barcodes are still used for many applications. | But the cost of durability must be compared to the cost of failure. A barcode that fails can cause a delay, an error, or a loss. In a hospital, a failed barcode can cause a patient to receive the wrong medication. In a factory, a failed barcode can cause a production line to stop. In a warehouse, a failed barcode can cause a shipment to be lost. These costs can be much higher than the cost of a rugged RFID tag. When the cost of failure is high, the durability of RFID is worth the price. | There is also the cost of the reader. A barcode scanner is cheap. An RFID reader is more expensive. But an RFID reader can read many tags at once, without line of sight. This can save time and labor. In a warehouse, a worker with an RFID reader can inventory a whole pallet in seconds. A worker with a barcode scanner would have to scan each item individually. The labor savings can quickly pay for the RFID reader. | There is also the cost of integration. An RFID system requires software, networking, and training. A barcode system is simpler. But an RFID system can provide more data and more automation. It can be integrated with other systems, such as inventory management, asset tracking, and supply chain management. The value of this integration can be significant. | 
| The Future of Durability | The durability problem is not solved. It is an ongoing challenge. Researchers are constantly developing new materials and new designs to make RFID tags even tougher. They are working on tags that can survive extreme heat, extreme cold, extreme pressure, and extreme chemicals. They are working on tags that can be embedded in metal, concrete, and composites. They are working on tags that can harvest energy from their environment, so they never need a battery. | At the same time, barcodes are also improving. New printing techniques are making barcodes more resistant to smudging and fading. New materials are making labels more durable. New scanner designs are making it easier to read damaged barcodes. But barcodes will always be limited by their fundamental nature. They are a surface pattern. They cannot be embedded in a material. They cannot be read through a material. They cannot survive the harshest environments. | The future of the silent network is likely to be a hybrid. Barcodes will continue to be used for low-value, short-life, and clean environments. RFID tags will be used for high-value, long-life, and harsh environments. The two technologies will coexist, and they will complement each other. A single object may have both a barcode and an RFID tag. The barcode can be used for manual scanning. The RFID tag can be used for automatic scanning. The barcode can be used for the first stage of the object's life. The RFID tag can be used for the rest. | This hybrid approach is already common. In retail, a product may have a barcode on the packaging and an RFID tag on the item. In healthcare, a patient may have a barcode wristband and an RFID wristband. In manufacturing, a part may have a barcode for manual tracking and an RFID tag for automated tracking. The two technologies are not competitors. They are partners. | 
| Detailed Summary | This chapter has explored the durability problem in automatic identification. The core issue is simple: barcodes are fragile, and RFID tags can be made rugged. But the implications are complex and far-reaching. | Barcodes are printed patterns of ink. They are cheap, universal, and easy to use. But they are vulnerable to physical damage, contamination, environmental exposure, mechanical wear, label adhesion failure, printing quality issues, and damage during scanning. These failure modes are common in harsh environments such as hospitals, factories, warehouses, farms, oil rigs, construction sites, and waste management facilities. When a barcode fails, the result can be a delay, an error, or a loss. | RFID tags are electronic components. They are more expensive than barcodes, but they can be encapsulated in protective materials. They can be overmolded in plastic, embedded in epoxy, sealed in a hard shell, encased in silicone, potted in ceramic or glass, housed in metal, or woven into fabric. These encapsulation methods allow RFID tags to survive heat, cold, moisture, chemicals, abrasion, impact, and time. | The durability of RFID tags has led to their adoption in many industries. In retail, RFID tags are used to track high-value items and to improve inventory accuracy. In healthcare, RFID tags are used to track patients, medications, and surgical instruments, and to survive sterilization. In manufacturing, RFID tags are embedded in parts and survive the entire production process. In logistics and warehousing, RFID tags are used to track pallets, containers, and packages, and to survive the journey. In agriculture and livestock, RFID tags are used to track animals, crops, and equipment, and to survive the outdoors. In oil and gas, RFID tags are used to track pipes, valves, and equipment, and to survive the extreme conditions. In construction, RFID tags are used to track materials and tools, and to survive the site. In transportation, RFID tags are used to track vehicles, cargo, and baggage, and to survive the trip. In waste management, RFID tags are used to track bins and trucks, and to survive the garbage. | The cost of durability is a key consideration. A rugged RFID tag costs more than a barcode. But the cost of failure can be much higher. When the cost of failure is high, the durability of RFID is worth the price. The cost of the reader and the cost of integration are also factors. But RFID readers can read many tags at once, which can save time and labor. RFID systems can provide more data and more automation, which can create new value. | 
| The future of durability is likely to be a hybrid. Barcodes will continue to be used for low-value, short-life, and clean environments. RFID tags will be used for high-value, long-life, and harsh environments. The two technologies will coexist and complement each other. A single object may have both a barcode and an RFID tag, with each technology used where it is most appropriate. | The silent network that maps the physical world depends on the ability of its endpoints to survive the physical world. Barcodes and RFID tags are the two main endpoints. Barcodes are the delicate butterflies. RFID tags are the rugged beetles. Both have their place. But when the environment is harsh, the rugged beetle wins. The durability problem is not just a technical challenge. It is a business challenge. It is a design challenge. It is a human challenge. The choices we make about durability determine what we can track, where we can track it, and how long we can track it. In the end, durability is not just about surviving. It is about enabling the silent network to reach every corner of the physical world. |
|
cs@easiersoft.com