international telecommunication union itu-t session one: rfid … · 2007-07-24 · international...

1. Visions of Ubiquity: Things in Cyberspace 1. Visions of Ubiquity: Things in Cyberspace L. SrivastavaL. Srivastava, , Strategy & Policy Unit, ITUStrategy & Policy Unit, ITU

2. RFID 2. RFID –– A European PerspectiveA European PerspectiveF. F. FrederixFrederix, European Commission, European Commission

3. Visions and strategy in Japan3. Visions and strategy in JapanT. T. TandaiTandai, MIC (Japan), MIC (Japan)

4. Vision and trends in US RFID markets4. Vision and trends in US RFID marketsY. MaguireY. Maguire, , ThingMagicThingMagic (United States)(United States)

Session One: RFID – Visions and Implications

Chaired by: Lara Srivastava (ITU)

International Telecommunication UnionITU-T

ITU-T Workshop “Networked RFID: Systems and Services“Geneva, 14-15 February 2006

International Telecommunication Union

Session OneVisions of Ubiquity:

Things in CyberspaceLara Srivastava

ITU New Initiatives ProgrammeStrategy and Policy Unit (SPU)

ITU


what is ubiquity? • Ubiquity comes the latin “ubique”, signifying

“everywhere”• In the ICT world, it has come to refer to an

environment in which technology becomes increasingly pervasive or ambient

• i.e. dedicated technical devices and networks eventually disappear, while information processing capabilities increasingly make their appearance…

• For the average user, ubiquity simply refers to unobtrusive connectivity anytime and anywhere.


but it doesn’t stop there…• Indeed, anytime and anywhere

…and by anyone…but it can and is goingfurther still: – By “anything”…

• This is the vision underlying the concept of a “network of things or objects”, and not only of people/data

• The internet now connects computers to one another, but imagine if it could also connect computers to things – a whole new dimension?

The dawn of an “Internet of things”?


what is required to get there? • to realize this vision, we will need a paradigm

shift in computing…– The ability to determine the status of everyday

objects or thing in real-time, i.e. “object networking”

This will enable us to map the real world on a “virtual tapestry”

• developments in miniaturization will further spur innovation in ubiquitous technologies, by driving both size and costs down– the disappearing processor…


RFID offers a solution • RFID is a technology for identifying

people and assets without human intervention

• It enables real-time identification but also tracking

• It can allow an understanding of a thing’s ‘status’

• As such, it is an integral and growing part of the “internet of things”

RFID Tag


connecting things with RFID drastically multiplies network

connections

Source: Adapted from Murakami, ITU-T NGN Forum


complementary technologies• Sensors: enable detection of environmental

status and sensory information– In combination with sensors, RFID

can better track the status of things, e.g. their temperature, the presence of bacteria etc…

– They can replace human senses to monitor the environment

– As such, they act as a further bridge between the physical and virtual worlds

• Nanotechnology: makes possiblethe “networking” of smaller and smaller objects – Due to shrinking of the RFID tag or its successors, very

tiny things could be mapped in the virtual world– One day, even “smart dust”?


towards smart dust? miniaturization and declining prices

Time

Min

iatu

rizat

ion

and

cost

redu

ctio

n

(2) PCs

(1) Mainframe

(4) Smart Things

(3) Mobiles / Smart Cards

Time

Min

iatu

rizat

ion

and

cost

redu

ctio

n

Time

Min

iatu

rizat

ion

and

cost

redu

ctio

n

(2) PCs(2) PCs

(1) Mainframe(1) Mainframe

(4) Smart Things(4) Smart Things



Source: ITU, “Ubiquitous Network Societies – Their Impact on the Telecommunication Industry”, April 2005, www.itu.int/ubiquitous


RFID growth potential, by sector(Western Europe, 2004-2009)

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

USD millions

supply chain

other

transport

pharmaceutical

retail

Source: ITU Internet Reports 2005: The Internet of Things, adapted from Juniper Research


adoption of wireless sensor networks are also on the rise

A d o p t io n o f w ir e le s s s e n s o r n e tw o r k s (20 0 4 -2 0 1 0 )

0

1

1 0

1 0 0

1 '0 0 0

1 0 '00 0

2 0 0 4 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0

S a le s

P r ice

Un its

Source: ITU Internet Reports 2005: The Internet of Things, adapted from Harbor Research


so, no dearth of applications, across sectors…


…applications embedding intelligence for “smart spaces”

Source: Ubiquitous ID Center


not surprisingly, mobile players are seizing the opportunity

03/04: 5140 and 5140i Source: Nokia


Others players, too, are reaching out

• managed services for RFID networks are being deployed, e.g. Cisco, BT etc.

• Retailers are also rather keen, e.g. Metro AG, Wal-Mart etc…


with great opportunities, however…come challenges

• Standards-setting and interoperability– Though tag formats have de facto standard “EPC”,

harmonization required particularly in the area of transmission protocols

– Role for standards bodies, e.g. ITU

• Governance of resources– Who controls the unique identifiers?– More commercial value at stake than DNS?

• Data protection & consumer privacy– Information contained on tags should

appropriately managed and controlled


Protecting Privacy • RFID has been plagued with delays due

to consumer concerns over privacy– CASPIAN, EPIC, EFF– Based on uncertainty surrounding

status of tag information after purchase

• Public sector has begun addressing the problem– EU Data Protection WP, Japan’s RFID Guidelines

• Nonetheless, there remains a lack of clarity as to rules and guidelines for RFID use, combined with low consumer awareness of benefits– How to convince users to take up the technology

amidst concerns over privacy– How to avoid a privacy divide?


Legal/regulatory• Consumer consent• Collection limitation• Use limitation• Openness• Accountability

Technical• Encryption• ID management• Privacy-enhancing

technologies (PETs)

Socio-ethical• Consumer rights• Public awareness• Disclosure• consumer advocacy

Economic/market• Self-regulation• Codes of conduct• Privacy certification• Consumer education

PrivacyProtection

Source: ITU Internet Reports 2005: The Internet of Things

privacy: a many-faceted thing


the growing nexus between technology and society

• new technologies like RFID have the potential to enhance quality of life, e.g.– enhanced security, convenience– better health care

• but we should be aware of other implications: – creation of a (perceived)

environment of surveillance– numbering things…

numbering humans: impacton identity, individuality, self-expression

– effect on human relationships, community life and intimacy


practical or cynical?


t h a n k y o u [email protected] www.itu.int/internetofthings/

international telecommunication union itu-t session one: rfid … · 2007-07-24 · international...

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