RFID Chips | 57

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Skip Montreux – Down to Business English
Episode Title: RFID Chips | 57
Date: June 23, 2012
Hosts: Skip Montreux (Tokyo, Japan) & Des Morgan (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

This episode focuses on the business applications and surprising uses of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) technology, highlighting both mainstream and unusual scenarios, particularly in Asia. The discussion aims not only to keep listeners informed about developments in business technology but also to improve their business English by unpacking useful vocabulary and idioms along the way.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction and iPad Banter (00:00–01:45)

• Skip welcomes Des to the "Apple community."
  Des shares that his workplace is going paperless, requiring an iPad for all materials.
• Brief, light commentary on the usefulness and convenience of iPads for work and everyday life.

What is RFID? (01:45–02:44)

• Acronym Explained:
  “RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification Device.” (Skip, 02:26)
• Definition:
  Skip explains that RFID chips are “small computer chips that are attached to things in order to track where they are. Or sometimes more importantly, where they are not.” (02:44)

How RFID Chips Work and Cost (02:44–03:58)

• Active vs. Passive Chips:
  • Active chips can receive and process information (more expensive, ~$0.25 each).
  • Passive chips only transmit preset info to a reader (very cheap, ~$0.05 in bulk).
• “Passive chips are pretty cheap then?” (Des, 03:55)

Surprising and Innovative Uses of RFID (04:03–05:01)

• Medical Applications:
  Surgical sponges implanted with RFID chips to “scan if any sponges have been left inside the body” after operations.
  • “You are kidding.” (Des, 04:23)
  • “No, it happens much more often than you think.” (Skip, 04:24)
• Beach Club in Barcelona:
  Clubbers injected with a chip linked to their debit cards, eliminating the need to bring wallets.
  • “So I could go there just wearing a tiny pair of swimming shorts?” (Des, 04:45)
  • “I suppose you could, but that sounds like a frightening sight.” (Skip, 04:49)

Mainstream Uses of RFID (05:05–06:05)

• Pet and Animal Control:
  • Used in the UK for tagging dogs and cats for tracking, vaccination, and controlled home entry.
  • Also explored for tagging prisoners, which sparks a brief ethical discussion.

Business and Supply Chain Applications (06:08–07:11)

• Walmart’s Adoption:
  Major retailer uses RFID for tracking shipping crates and logistics, monitoring in-transit items, and managing workforce efficiency.
  • “The truck itself is probably tagged as well. So you are right. Truck drivers now have far less freedom than they used to have.” (Skip, 06:37)
• Product-Level Tracking:
  Plans for tagging individual clothing items, raising privacy concerns about post-sale data collection.
  • “Walmart never made it clear that the tags would be removed, which caused some people to think that the chips could be used to track people's movements.” (Skip, 07:11)
  • “You mean information like how many people that buy sports clothes go to the gym?” (Des, 07:24)

The Future of RFID (07:31–08:26)

• Innovative Possibilities:
  • Smart washing machines that read tags on clothing for optimal cycles.
  • "No checkout" supermarkets, where RFID enables instant, automatic debiting at the exit.
  • “If each item in your cart or trolley...is tagged with an RFID chip and your debit card also has a tag, then the reader at the door could scan each item in your trolley and then simply charge the amount to your card.” (Skip, 08:04)

Unique Use Case in Asia – Bird's Nests (08:35–09:01)

• Authenticity in Food Products:
  • RFID tags ensure authenticity for edible bird's nests in Malaysia, to prevent counterfeit products.
  • “So producers are tagging the authentic nests to control quality.” (Des, 08:54)
  • “That's right.” (Skip, 08:59)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification Device.” – Skip, 02:26
• “RFID chips are small computer chips that are attached to things in order to track where they are. Or sometimes more importantly, where they are not.” – Skip, 02:44
• “A beach club in Barcelona injects clubbers with a chip that is linked to their debit card details so that they don't need to bring their wallets.” – Skip, 04:33
• “The truck itself is probably tagged as well. So you are right. Truck drivers now have far less freedom than they used to have.” – Skip, 06:37
• “Walmart never made it clear that the tags would be removed, which caused some people to think that the chips could be used to track people's movements...” – Skip, 07:11
• “Imagine this. If each item in your cart or trolley...is tagged...and your debit card also has a tag, then the reader at the door could scan each item...and simply charge the amount to your card.” – Skip, 08:04
• “Birds nests?... You mean for the famous soup?” – Des, 08:38
• “Yes. Malaysia is the second biggest producer of this delicacy after China. And there is a major problem with counterfeit nests...” – Skip, 08:41

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:45 – Introduction of RFID topic
• 02:26 – Explanation of RFID acronym
• 03:35 – Distinction between active and passive RFID chips
• 04:03 – Medical and unusual uses introduced
• 05:05 – Mainstream applications (animal control, prison)
• 06:16 – Walmart's supply chain use
• 07:05 – Product-level tracking and privacy
• 07:36 – Future and imaginative uses
• 08:35 – RFID in Asian bird's nests

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Business English Vocabulary Section (09:07–13:53)

Expressions and Words Covered:

• Fest: “...having a love fest with Apple.” (Skip, 09:54)
• Acronym: “...when something is referred to by the first letters in its name.” (Des, 10:41)
• Sarcasm: “...to say the opposite of what you mean and to show how much you disagree with the statement.” (Skip, 11:19)
• In bulk: “...if a company buys a lot of RFID chips or buys them in bulk, then the price falls to about 5 cents each.” (Des, 11:47)
• Mainstream: “...the price fell considerably as they became more mainstream.” (Des, 12:41)
• In transit: “Walmart can track products that are being transported or are in transit by using RFID chips in the trucks and in the packing materials.” (Des, 13:04)

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Final Thoughts & Recommendations

• The episode provides a clear overview of RFID technology, its current and potential applications, and how it integrates into business and daily life.
• Listeners are invited to engage further via the website and to download the episode transcript for additional business English learning.

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Transcript

[A]

Hello everyone, this is Skip Montreux in Tokyo, Japan. Welcome to the podcast that keeps you up to date with business news from around the world, helps improve your English listening skills and expands your range of business related vocabulary.

[B]

You certainly can't ask for more than that. I'm Des Morgan in Abu Dhabi, uae and you're listening to down to Business English.

[A]

So, Des, it is also time for me to welcome you into the Apple community. I understand that you are the proud new owner of the new iPad.

[B]

Thanks, Skip.

[A]

For the record, I am very jealous.

[B]

But I only have one because the college that I work at is going paperless. So all of the textbooks and all other materials will be only available on the iPad.

[A]

Wow. Now I am even more jealous. That sounds great. You will never have to worry about your students forgetting their books at home again.

[B]

True. They might forget their iPads though, as might I.

[A]

Be careful. The iPad is so lightweight that forgetting it behind is not hard to do. Fortunately, I haven't forgotten mine yet and have it with me whenever I go out. It is so useful for taking notes, preparing D2B shows, looking at maps, looking at.

[B]

Okay, okay, I get the picture. You love your iPad.

[A]

I do. I really, really do.

[B]

So is that our story for today? Another Skip Loves Apple Love Fest?

[A]

No, actually it isn't. But our story today is connected to technology. And that technology is RFID chips and one unusual way that they are being used in Asia.

[B]

I have no idea what an RFID chip is, but let's do it. Let's get D2B down to business with those chips. What are they, what are they used for? And what is the unusual use for them in Asia?

[A]

I guess I should begin with what the acronym RFID stands for.

[B]

Sounds like a good place to start.

[A]

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification Device.

[B]

That's really clear now. Thanks for that, Skip.

[A]

Okay, a little less sarcasm from you, Mr. Morgan. I can't help it if you're technologically illiterate.

[B]

I am indeed.

[A]

Oh, you're not that bad off. Now, RFID chips are small computer chips that are attached to things in order to track where they are. Or sometimes more importantly, where they are not.

[B]

That doesn't sound so revolutionary. You attach a chip to a product and then use a device to follow it.

[A]

Yes, you're right. The technology is not that advanced. But the challenge for RFID technology has been to make the chips small enough and cheap enough so that they can be used economically with a wide range of products.

[B]

Typically then how much does a chip cost?

[A]

That depends on Whether it is an chip or a passive chip.

[B]

I might have known that Skip would not be able to give me a simple answer. What's the difference between the two?

[A]

Well, an active chip can be programmed to respond to information, while a passive chip merely sends the information that it has been input with to a remote reader.

[B]

And costs.

[A]

An active chip costs around 25 cents and. And a passive chip can cost as little as 5 cents when ordered in bulk.

[B]

So passive chips are pretty cheap then?

[A]

Yes, they can be.

[B]

Can you tell us more as to what these chips are used for?

[A]

I think you would be very surprised by some of their uses. One use is in a hospital. Surgical sponges can be implanted with a chip so that it is possible to scan a patient after an operation to see if any sponges have been left inside the body.

[B]

You are kidding.

[A]

No, it happens much more often than you think. A US based company, Smart Sponges, is making just such a product.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Here's another use. A beach club in Barcelona injects clubbers with a chip that is linked to their debit card details so that they don't need to bring their wallets.

[B]

So I could go there just wearing a tiny pair of swimming shorts?

[A]

I suppose you could, but that sounds like a frightening sight.

[B]

I was only speaking hypothetically.

[A]

I am so pleased to hear that

[B]

those sound like a few of the more unusual uses. But how about some more mainstream ones?

[A]

Sure. One of the oldest uses for chips, or tags, as they are often called, is for pets.

[B]

Right. Dogs in the UK are tagged, I believe, so that the authorities can see if they've had all of the injections they're supposed to have had and also so they can be tracked if they're lost.

[A]

In fact, the UK was one of the first countries to make use of RFID tags for animal control. Cats can be tagged too, and the frequency of the tag can be matched to the kitty door so that the door only opens to allow that cat to enter or exit.

[B]

My aunt should get one of those as she's always complaining that the neighbour's cats are coming into her house and eating the cat food.

[A]

Another related use is again, in the uk, prisons want to tag prisoners in case they escape.

[B]

That sounds like an infringement on people's human rights. I mean, the next step would be to tag the whole population.

[A]

Maybe that is why they haven't done it yet.

[B]

Apart from governments, are there any major companies pushing this technology? It sounds like it would have a lot of applications in business.

[A]

Yes, it does. The US retailer Walmart has been A major supporter of RFID tags for years. All of their shipping crates are tagged so that the company can see where they are in transit and when they will arrive at stores.

[B]

So the truck drivers can't go for an extended breakfast in the mornings then?

[A]

That would be one thing the company would know. The truck itself is probably tagged as well. So you are right. Truck drivers now have far less freedom than they used to have.

[B]

Do they tag individual products as well?

[A]

There were several reports last year that Walmart was planning to add tags to individual items of clothes, so that in theory, a consumer would never go into a shop only to discover that the size or color that they wanted was sold out.

[B]

The tags would be removed from the clothes after they were sold, though, like the security tags that stores use now.

[A]

That was the issue. Walmart never made it clear that the tags would be removed, which caused some people to think that the chips could be used to track people's movements, which could then be used for marketing purposes.

[B]

You mean information like how many people that buy sports clothes go to the gym?

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Interesting. But what about future uses of RFID technology?

[A]

There are of course, a whole range of options, like smart washing machines that choose the cycle based on the RFID tags on each garment. Or how about this? You could go into a supermarket and fill your cart and then just leave with it.

[B]

Excuse me? Fill your trolley and just leave with your items. No going through the checkout. Isn't that called shoplifting?

[A]

Only if you don't pay. Imagine this. If each item in your cart or trolley, as you call it, is tagged with an RFID chip and your debit card also has a tag, then the reader at the door could scan each item in your trolley and then simply charge the amount to your card.

[B]

No more queuing at the checkout. That sounds great. You haven't told us about the unusual use for RFID in Asia.

[A]

Oh, yes, get this. Birds nests.

[B]

Birds nests? You mean for the famous soup?

[A]

Yes. Malaysia is the second biggest producer of this delicacy after China. And there is a major problem with counterfeit nests that do not meet the health standards of the regulated nests.

[B]

So producers are tagging the authentic nests to control quality.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

Very interesting.

[A]

Those are just a few of the current and future uses of RFID chips.

[B]

And now it's time for us to get D2V down to vocabulary. Just before getting into today's vocabulary expressions, I would like to remind everyone that if you have a question about today's story, please feel free to visit www.downtobusinessenglish.com to post a question or pop by the D2B Facebook page and post it there.

[A]

And also, don't forget that you can download a PDF of the audio script for today's episode on the website as well.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Okay, let me get things started today with the casual expression fest, which is short for festival, which of course means a party of some kind. In the story, Des asked whether today's episode was going to be me talking about how much I love Apple products or, as he called it, having a love fest with Apple.

[B]

Luckily for us, it didn't turn into a Skip and Apple love fest after all. Another use might be if you went on holiday to a place with really good restaurants. You might call it a food fest.

[A]

I went to Bali a couple of years ago and that was certainly a food fest with great seafood and some great chefs at the hotel I stayed at.

[B]

Now you make me want to go there My first word today is acronym, which means when something is referred to by the first letters in its name. In the story, I asked Skip what the acronym RFID stood for.

[A]

Here's an interesting story around acronyms. Do you know the wwf?

[B]

You mean the World Wildlife Fund?

[A]

Not necessarily the World Wrestling Federation or WWF took the World Wildlife Fund to court as they were using the same acronym.

[B]

But the World Wildlife Fund has been around for much longer.

[A]

That is pretty much what the judge said too. Moving on, my next word is sarcasm. Sarcasm means to say the opposite of what you mean and to show how much you disagree with the statement. In the story, I accused DEZ of sarcasm when he claimed that my explanation of RFID technology was easy to understand.

[B]

Sorry about that.

[A]

Oh, no problem at all.

[B]

Now who's being sarcastic? Anyway, my next word is the set expression in bulk, which means to buy a large quantity of something so that the price is lower. In the story, Skip said that if a company buys a lot of RFID chips or buys them in bulk, then the price falls to about 5 cents each.

[A]

At my company, we usually buy a lot of textbooks at once so we can get a bulk order discount.

[B]

That's why it's so difficult for smaller companies to compete with the major ones as they are unable to get the discount for buying in bulk.

[A]

Very true. Now I have the adjective mainstream, which means regular or normal in some way. In the story, Des asked me to tell him about the mainstream or more common uses of RFID technology.

[B]

Another example is the introduction of new technology. Take DVD players for example. They were very expensive at first but gradually, as they became more mainstream, the price fell considerably.

[A]

I know my first DVD player cost $500, but now you can pick up a basic one for $50 or less.

[B]

I remember paying about the same way back in the early 2000s. For my final word of the day, I have the expression to be in transit, which means when a product is traveling between its source and its destination. In the story, Skip mentions that Walmart can track products that are being transported or are in transit by using RFID chips in the trucks and in the packing materials.

[A]

DHL and FedEx, the international shipping companies, have a really useful feature that allows you to go online and see exactly where a parcel is in its transit through their network.

[B]

That sounds handy.

[A]

I've used it several times in the past and yes, it is very convenient.

[B]

And that is about all we have today for vocabulary. Well, thanks for that story, Skip.

[A]

My pleasure. I found the whole topic quite interesting and I hope our listeners did as well.

[B]

Remember everyone, as I mentioned earlier, the audio script for today's episode is available at www.downtobusinessenglish.com and when you are at

[A]

the website, be sure to sign up for the down to Business English newsletter where we follow up some of the stories we cover here on the podcast.

[B]

Skip has recently sent out an interesting piece on the aftermath of Facebook's ipo. If you didn't catch that one, be sure to sign up for the next one.

[A]

Yes, please do that. Thanks a lot everyone. See you next time.

[B]

Thanks everyone. Bye.

[A]

The music in today's show comes from Mi Vo's Music Alley. Check it out at musicmivo.com.