What is automatic identification?
Automatic identification is the term given to technologies used to help machines identify objects. Auto identification is often used with automatic data capture. Besides radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies that fall under the auto-ID category include bar codes, smart cards, voice recognition, some biometric technologies (retinal scans, for instance) and optical character recognition (OCR).

What is RFID?
Radio frequency identification (RFID), is a technology that uses radio waves to automatically identify people or objects. A serial number that identifies a person or object is stored on a microchip that is attached to an antenna. An RFID system consists of a tag made up of a microchip with an antenna, and an interrogator or reader with an antenna. The reader sends out electromagnetic waves. The tag antenna receives the waves.

What type of RFID tag is used by the Vineland Public Schools?

There are three types of RFID tags: active RFID tags, semi-passive tags and passive tags. VPS uses passive RFID tags. Passive tags draw power from the reader, which sends out electromagnetic waves that induce a current in the tag's antenna. Active tags have a transmitter and their own power source (typically a battery). Semi-passive tags use a battery to run the chip's circuitry, but communicate by drawing power from the reader. Active and semi-passive tags cost more than passive tags which have no battery.

How close to the reader must my tag be to work?
The read range of passive tags depends on many factors: the frequency of operation, the power of the reader, interference from other RF devices and so on. Each time you enter the building, hold your card about 1-3 inches from the small window on the reader. You will hear a beep, and see a green LED light up. NOTE: Do not "swipe" the card.

Is RFID new?
RFID technology has been around since the 1970s. Until recently, RFID was expensive, limiting practical use for commercial applications. Now that RFID tags have become affordable, their practicality has increased.

What are some of the most common applications for RFID?
RFID's applications are limited only by people's imagination, but they are most commonly used for payment systems, access control and asset tracking.