RFID In Shoes?

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A German retailer is using RFID tag in shoes to prevent theft and keep better track of inventory. What makes this different from other products that are tracked with RFID tags is that these will be integrated into the shoe.

The German retail giant, with more 2,300 supermarkets and wholesale, department and electronics stores, is collaborating with several IT companies, including IBM Corp., Intel Corp. and SAP AG, and more than 40 additional consumer goods and technology suppliers to develop RFID systems for the retail sector.
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I think that this is the way the entire retail industry will be headed in the near future. RFIDs will be incorporated in either products or packaging. No more long checkout lines. Just roll your cart through the scanner and pay.
 
I don't mind RFID for inventory purposes, or theft that occurs before a legitimate purchase, but those chips better be deactivated once I leave the store.
 
GJSNeptune said:
I don't mind RFID for inventory purposes, or theft that occurs before a legitimate purchase, but those chips better be deactivated once I leave the store.
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Can they be deactivated?

I really don't like the thought of being tracked, even "anonymously", but it seems that is the way the world is heading. I'd better get used to it.
 
GJSNeptune said:
I don't mind RFID for inventory purposes, or theft that occurs before a legitimate purchase, but those chips better be deactivated once I leave the store.
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I think the convenience will end up trumping any privacy concerns; we've seen time and again how incrementalism defeats objection, and the RFID revolution will be no different. Everyday people concerned about the privacy, folks who don't want more marketing spam shot their way, and Mark of the Beast control grid types like myself, will be marginalized as antiquated or conspiracy nuts, and it will go on.
 
GJSNeptune said:
I don't mind RFID for inventory purposes, or theft that occurs before a legitimate purchase, but those chips better be deactivated once I leave the store.
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Why does it really matter? You care that if somone has an RFID scanner that they would know what size shoe you bought?

lol, seriously, most probably it would contain nothing more than what a barcode now contains, just a few digits for inventory purposes.
 
Ockie said:
Why does it really matter? You care that if somone has an RFID scanner that they would know what size shoe you bought?

lol, seriously, most probably it would contain nothing more than what a barcode now contains, just a few digits for inventory purposes.
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Of course, on the other hand, these devices can, and very well might at some point, carry unique RFID codes which would allow extremely easy tracking of every individual.

as Torquemada XP already said, the "Oh, it's "Insert minor concession.", it's no big deal!"" approach is how it always starts. Sure, today they may simply be unique to the size, but tomorrow they could be unique to the specific shoe.
 
Well, there's got to be way to discriminate between a sold shoe and an unsold shoe... no pun intended.

So either the system has to maintain a list of shoe-specific RFIDs (to know which ones to let through the exit) or the RFID has to be killed before the shoe walks out the door (so it avoids detection entirely). Otherwise, the alarm will go off every time you enter and leave that store... or any other shoe store using that system.
 
Actually, every single RFID tag on the planet will have an individual serial number associated to it (like a MAC address). Furthermore, it also contains a manufacturer ID and product code (like bar codes do). With simple software modifications, supermarkets with RFID scanners could easily cross reference purchases to credit and debit information. Like a “club card”, this information would be collected and used for marketing and sales. Theoretically, it could also be sold to companies and organizations that were willing to pay for it.

Now, imagine a scenario where every single material possession you had was serialized by RFID (clothing, furniture, license, money, etc.). Theoretically, using a centralized database, all forms of personal anonymity would be lost. Everywhere you went and everything you purchased could be tracked through the database…
 
Nemesis999 said:
Of course, on the other hand, these devices can, and very well might at some point, carry unique RFID codes which would allow extremely easy tracking of every individual.

as Torquemada XP already said, the "Oh, it's "Insert minor concession.", it's no big deal!"" approach is how it always starts. Sure, today they may simply be unique to the size, but tomorrow they could be unique to the specific shoe.
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If you never allow any concessions... we'd be still trying to make fire using sticks and stones....
 
OregonLAN said:
Actually, every single RFID tag on the planet will have an individual serial number associated to it (like a MAC address). Furthermore, it also contains a manufacturer ID and product code (like bar codes do). With simple software modifications, supermarkets with RFID scanners could easily cross reference purchases to credit and debit information. Like a “club card”, this information would be collected and used for marketing and sales. Theoretically, it could also be sold to companies and organizations that were willing to pay for it.

Now, imagine a scenario where every single material possession you had was serialized by RFID (clothing, furniture, license, money, etc.). Theoretically, using a centralized database, all forms of personal anonymity would be lost. Everywhere you went and everything you purchased could be tracked through the database…
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You do not think that for one minute that the current UPC barcode system doesn't use your information from your payment (credit, bank, or member card) to gather marketing information?
 
Ockie said:
You do not think that for one minute that the current UPC barcode system doesn't use your information from your payment (credit, bank, or member card) to gather marketing information?
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I'm sure they are.

But guess what? When I walk through the scanner in Walmart it sure as hell can't tell what my name is. If you were wearing several RFID tags that were linked to your name you could be tracked wherever you went. As the devices become used more and more you will be scanned more and more often. This could effectively create a system of tracking the movements and behaviors of every individual.
 
They will put it in money so they can see who gets money (when dispensed from bank machine etc) and where they spend it when received at bank from store
or taken by cops from drug dealer, cash for service (with no tax) deal etc.

so they can try and track everything you do.
may be putting cash in the microwave might fix the rfid chips though :)
 
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