Most major hotels no longer issue traditional keys, having replaced them with magnetic swipe cards. Consumers were enthusiastic about the introduction of that technology, which made security simpler and stronger. Today, the concept is being expanded through the adoption of radio frequency identification. Although not a new concept, RFID keycards benefit both guests and operators by making visits virtually trouble-free and seamless.
RFID was originally intended to be a tracking tool. A package or similar item receives a tag with a built in integrated circuit connected to a small antenna. The tags vary according to intended use, and can be attached to clothing in retail stores, or placed on computers or other inventory in business settings. The electronics fit nearly any size or style of label, and are unlimited in application.
The integrated circuits used require no painstaking manual labor to produce, and the antennas can be transferred to a paper-like material using vapor-depositing, etching, or stamping processes. Together with the antenna, the circuit is called an inlay, and there may be more than one antenna within a card. The chip itself is the brain of the card, containing not only identifiers, but also any other data necessary.
When the correct signal is detected, the card automatically awakes. Once alert, it is then able to speak to an RFID reader, which is sometimes called an interrogator because it asks pointed questions. After collecting data sent by the remote tag, the reader works with a central computer via local network or Internet in order to retrieve or process the whatever is being requested. This system makes sense for large hotels, making the technological transition inevitable.
For paying guests, the result is a seamless and pleasing experience. Room doors unlock effortlessly when approached, and the drapes and lights can be programmed to activate upon entry. Resort guests who may be wearing swimwear do not have to carry personal items, but can place them in a locker that already knows exactly who they are, and opens and shuts whenever approached.
Hotel operators concerned with cost control also benefit. Some items are costly to replace continuously, but often make their way into suitcases upon departure, and bathrobes, towels, sheets and even tablecloths must be laundered daily. Not only is a tracking label durable, but survives hot water well, while remaining active to ensure that an item does not mysteriously disappear.
The system even works with food items. Some guests learn after-the-fact that small refrigerators in rooms can detect when their doors are opened, and also have sensors to determine which items inside are moved or taken. RFID methods expand that capability by placing unobtrusive sensors on the lips of bottles. They not only record how much liquor was poured, but the precise time a drink was made.
Non-magnetic cards wear out less frequently. The overall cost of this technology has steadily decreased, and will eventually become nearly as inexpensive as mag-stripe card security. Once in place, customers using these new systems report fewer incidences of unreliability. Ultimately, guests will ultimately even be able to program their smart phones to act as room keys.
RFID was originally intended to be a tracking tool. A package or similar item receives a tag with a built in integrated circuit connected to a small antenna. The tags vary according to intended use, and can be attached to clothing in retail stores, or placed on computers or other inventory in business settings. The electronics fit nearly any size or style of label, and are unlimited in application.
The integrated circuits used require no painstaking manual labor to produce, and the antennas can be transferred to a paper-like material using vapor-depositing, etching, or stamping processes. Together with the antenna, the circuit is called an inlay, and there may be more than one antenna within a card. The chip itself is the brain of the card, containing not only identifiers, but also any other data necessary.
When the correct signal is detected, the card automatically awakes. Once alert, it is then able to speak to an RFID reader, which is sometimes called an interrogator because it asks pointed questions. After collecting data sent by the remote tag, the reader works with a central computer via local network or Internet in order to retrieve or process the whatever is being requested. This system makes sense for large hotels, making the technological transition inevitable.
For paying guests, the result is a seamless and pleasing experience. Room doors unlock effortlessly when approached, and the drapes and lights can be programmed to activate upon entry. Resort guests who may be wearing swimwear do not have to carry personal items, but can place them in a locker that already knows exactly who they are, and opens and shuts whenever approached.
Hotel operators concerned with cost control also benefit. Some items are costly to replace continuously, but often make their way into suitcases upon departure, and bathrobes, towels, sheets and even tablecloths must be laundered daily. Not only is a tracking label durable, but survives hot water well, while remaining active to ensure that an item does not mysteriously disappear.
The system even works with food items. Some guests learn after-the-fact that small refrigerators in rooms can detect when their doors are opened, and also have sensors to determine which items inside are moved or taken. RFID methods expand that capability by placing unobtrusive sensors on the lips of bottles. They not only record how much liquor was poured, but the precise time a drink was made.
Non-magnetic cards wear out less frequently. The overall cost of this technology has steadily decreased, and will eventually become nearly as inexpensive as mag-stripe card security. Once in place, customers using these new systems report fewer incidences of unreliability. Ultimately, guests will ultimately even be able to program their smart phones to act as room keys.
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