Consumer Electronics of the Future

The future is unfolding all around us. Over the next decade we will see a slew of new products that we can hardly imagine today.

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The ABC's of RFID

Radio Frequency Identification, (RFID), is poised to play a large role in improving customer service at your local retail store and you may never even know it is there.

What is RFID?

The overall concept of RFID is simple. Identify an object wirelessly. It is not much different from the bar codes seen on many products today. The advantage of RFID is the distance at which the product can be scanned (up to three meters away), and unlike bar code laser scans, the RFID reader does not need to "see" the object it is scanning. This allows a RFID reader to scan every product in your cart at checkout without removing them, or it can alert an inventory control manager that he needs to refill the shelves after Mrs. Jones stocks up on her special brand of cat food.

A RFID system consists of a RFID tag, which is made up of a tiny microchip and antenna, and a RFID reader. The RFID tag, which is small and flexible enough to fit inside a label, has internal memory that can store information about the product the label is adhered to. Some "smart labels" do not require batteries as they get their power from the radio waves transmitted by the reader. This type of smart labels are called passive because they don't emit any signal on their own. The newest RFID smart labels operate near the same frequency band as a cordless phone.

What are the Benefits of RFID?

Retail stores say they will use RFID to improve service and to reduce operating costs which could help lower prices. The biggest benefit to consumers will be better merchandise availability by ensuring that products are available when you need them. RFID can also keep track of expiration dates and let the manager know when it is time to remove an item from the shelves. RFID can be used in many ways to improve customer service, save time and reduce costs. 

Radio wristbands featuring an RFID chip

World's Largest Laser

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is both the largest laser and the largest optical instrument ever built, requiring 7500 large optics (over one foot across) and more than
30,000 small optics. The most obvious role of NIF optics is to steer the 192 laser beams through the 700-foot-long building onto a
dime-size laser-fusion target. Missions for the giant laser include demonstrating limitless fusion power production.

National Ignition Facility