In the olden days, secret documents and important papers and envelopes were sealed with hot wax that had been embossed with the author's signature or signet ring. This seal not only authenticated the sender's mail, but if the wax had been broken in transit, the document could no longer be considered secure. The owner of the ring usually did not remove the ring allowing free access, but if the ring was removed to be used by another person, it was a statement of absolute trust and a means for recognizing the delegated authority.
The rule in force was that the letter or document was to be hand-delivered directly to the person intended and that once the seal was broken, the seal could not be reused. One could imagine someone reclaiming the remnants of a broken wax seal and constructing a matching signet much like creating a wax impression of a key. So, in the end, it was not really that secure.
Document security and authenticity is a major concern. Disinformation via phony documents is one of the main intelligence tools used today. How does the recipient know that the document he has in his hands was the one sent by the designer, the contractor, the lawyer, or any other person having the originating authority? How does a company know that the certifications of compliance are genuine, and not counterfeit? The answer is RFID tagging.
The RFID tag need not be visible, as it can be printed in between pressed pages that at first glance look like a single sheet of paper. If anyone tries to tamper with the tag, the document is destroyed. This hearkens back to the wax seal on secret documents, but this seal is made in such a way that no two are ever alike. Also, the tag can be encrypted and locked so that only authorized recipients can read them. RFID tags are not costly, and they provide document authentication for packages, contractual agreements, official schedules, or any other critical materials that require certification of genuine origin.
Counterfeiters do not just counterfeit products. They forge packaging, logo, labels, compliance certificate, shipping documents, transit, and customs documents. Covert RFID tagging may be the best answer to resolving this problem. If my package has the authorized tag data embedded in the shipping document, label, package contents, and other official documents, then I can be 99.99 percent sure that what I received what ordered. Now when the RFID cloud is up and running, I will be able to keep a historical archive of everything I ordered and received from all vendors that use the RFID technology.
I can foresee a day when I hold up my document to a RFID-enabled display that recognizes the presence of an RFID tag. In less than a second, the smart display will access the cloud and authenticate the document. It is just a matter of software, optics, and computer power. Why not? If the application becomes ubiquitous, then my mobile phone, laptop, and tablet will detect a spam document and filter it out before my email receives it.
I am talking about a personal, digital signet ring that will provide the authentication that any email I send has come from me and not from a source using my email address. The RFID tagging of documents has earned my seal of approval. Let's see if our next-gen laptops will include RFID readers and software.
"It only authenticates the sender and when the RFID chip has onboard memory, can track the stations and that the document passed through and when"
@Doughlas: I wasn't aware of this feature that the chip can also store the reader's information once it's read. Seems like a really useful technique to ensure that the document has not fallen in the wrong hands and that it's still confidential.
Thank you for sharing these links. This is a perfect example of how the government can use its power to play unfairly and without limits. It is very scary indeed. Such acts do gradually deteriorate the trust of people in the government which is irreversible and therefore it is a very risky practice though.
When seamless technology and access (such as the one offered by RFID) is brought into the above picture, only god knows how 'creatively' the governments can make use of the information they have access to.
I am just thinking of a scenario where the RFID powered banknotes changing hands from a criminal to an innocent citizen (called Bob) and the horrific situation this 'unmeasurable and undetectable' scenario could lead to. Poor Bob could be questioned for days on end to prove that he got the cash from somebody else!
Saudi Arabia does not have Income Taxes and its not like the Saudi Riyal is widely used outside of Saudi Arabia(so market for Currency forgery is less);so I don't see why there should resistance to utililzation of this Technology there.
Most Western Governments are bankrupt today.So Harassment of Citizens(to pay their so-called fair share in Taxes) is gonna increase;especially if you are not politically connected.
Compare and contrast this behavior to that meted out to Known Cheats like Timothy Geithner and Jon Corzine & you will know what I mean.
I do see your concerns and I agree with them. Whilst this technology can help detect fraud and money laundering, it also provides a means to track the amount of cash people have in their pockets, which I do find way intrusive and a breach of privacy.
As the article has mentioned, it provides a fantastic tool for the government to check whether people pay their income tax properly. I am sure this possibility alone will cause huge objections to this technology.
This particular application has many controversial issues associated with it and whilst it may easily be put into practice in Saudi Arabia, I cannot say the same for the Western world.
Technologically, I was equally impressed as you though.
Philosphically I am opposed to this.People should have the freedom to use Competing currencies whichever suits themselves.
This is not a good move if you believe in Freedom and Liberty[How you anonymize/ensure that the Government does not abuse the tracking features on the Note for their own nefarious needs???]
But Technically,I was like WoW!The Engineering Skills involved are just mind-boggling here.
I recently came across an interesting application of the RFID technology which is about tracking money. Researchers at the Functional Nanomaterials and Devices Laboratory at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology are trying to implement RFID on banknotes.
In the link I provided above, you will find an interesting interview on this fascinating and very useful application of RFID.
@TaimoorZ, Exactly right! RFID does not stop anyone from reading a secure document. It only authenticates the sender and when the RFID chip has onboard memory, can track the stations and that the document passed through and when. This is called "Rules based management". It is perfect for the supply chain where in-transit checks are required.
RFID makes it possible not only to increase the quantity and types of products streaming through the supply chain, but also to build higher-level products and services.
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Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
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