on::RFID "The next step to THE INTERNET OF THINGS"

I'll be attending this RFID conference for the next days.

Here's the synopsis:

RFID is technologically and commercially ready, but several factors are holding back its use either in well established value chains or on innovative applications.

RFIDs are perceived as the trigger of a new phase of development of the Information Society, often referred to as the "Internet of Things" in which the net potentially interlinks any of our daily surrounding objects to other identifiers, context data and business processes. It is expected that the impact on several value chains will be considerable and a multitude of new applications will emerge.

RFID has a number of opportunities and threats that have to be addressed. The European Union has been particularly active launching a debate on 2006 followed by several framework policy documents e.g. Commission Communication on "RFID in Europe: steps towards a policy framework", First exchange of views at TTE Council, 7 June 2007, Conference "RFID: Towards the Internet of Things", Berlin, June 2007.

The present conference hosted during the Portuguese Presidency of the EU is an opportunity to discuss the existing barriers and concerns to the wide acceptance of RFID and the answer provided by the business and technical communities, the standardization bodies and the public policies for governance of resources.

Key Objectives:

Raise awareness of RFID topics in The European Union (benefits and concerns):

1. Raise awareness of RFID topics in The European Union (benefits and concerns).

2. Discuss the issues related to privacy and security, in the context of the work developed by the Expert Group on RFID created by the EU Commission .

3. Foster and reinforce knowledge networks and research based partnerships to contribute to the continuous progress and acceleration of the RFID and the Internet of Things.

4. Identify ideas for demonstration projects of the Internet of Things that are innovative both as business applications and on the usage of technology.
   

5. Identify mobilizing ideas for key research projects addressing technological barriers perceived as preventing a broader dissemination of RFID and the internet of things.

Organizing Committee:

• José Alves Marques (Link Consulting)
  
• Luís Magalhães (UMIC)
  
• Bráz Costa (IAPMEI)
  
• Rui Grilo (Technological Plan/Plano Tecnológico)
  
• Victor Barroso (CMU-Portugal Program/IST)
• Luis Correia (Institute of Telecommuncations/IST)
• Manuel Cruz (Fraunhofer-Portugal Program/IBERLOG)
• António Cunha (MIT-Portugal Program/U. Minho)
• Paulo Magalhães (Modelo-Continente/SONAE)
  
• Carlos Mesquita (Link Consulting)