Retail

RFID chips are small, unobtrusive and can be read from a distance. There is no real way for a consumer to know if they purchase a product containing an RFID tag. Consumers fear that they may end up walking around carrying computer chips that track their movements and spending habits.

One method of protecting consumers from RFID tracking is tag killing. In this scenario RFID tags have a built-in “kill command” which disables the functionality of the tag after consumers purchase a product.

Killing tags would undermine many potential benefits for consumers. RFID tag killing prevents tags from being used to manage returns and recalls. If tags on consumer products are killed, then smart appliances such as RFID-enhanced refrigerators, ovens and washing machines will be unrealizable. Another drawback is that there may only be a limited number of killer kiosks in stores, leading to lines and preventing consumers from killing tags due to the inconvenience.

Therefore, our system provides an alternative to “tag-killing” and it would be impossible to reuse discarded packaging.