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.
When first introduced, RFID was designed for tracking. An item was labeled with a tag containing an integrated circuit and small antenna, which communicated with a database. Although these tags revolutionized package shipping, the same principle is applied today to control merchandise in retail outlets, or to track and manage on-site business inventory such as computers, but potential applications are unlimited.
Production is fast and relatively simple. Using a system of etching, vapor-depositing, or machine-stamping, the electronics can be applied to light-weight, paper-like surfaces with ease. When referred to as a unit, antenna and chip are called an inlay. Most have more than one antenna, and the chip stores or accesses the necessary information, including room identification and other pertinent data.
When the antenna detects the right signal, the card comes alive. It is programmed to connect with a device called an interrogator, or reader, which asks for information and gives instructions per its program. After receiving a radio signal from the tag, a reader communicates with a centralized computer system in order to carry out what has been requested, making RFID ideal for unlocking rooms and other devices.
The result is a more pleasing and trouble-free guest experience. When approached by someone carrying a card, doors unlock automatically, and lights or drapes can be programmed to open or turn on when the door opens. In resort areas, people wearing swimsuits no longer need be concerned about what to do with personal items, because their card already knows which nearby locker to open.
Hotel operators can also place these chips in items that are relatively expensive to replace, but which commonly find their way into guest suitcases at checkout time. These include not only towels and bathrobes, but even bed-sheets and tablecloths. The printed circuits are not only durable but also washable, and help track and control thousands of items which must be laundered daily.
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.
The cards wear out less frequently than magnetic-strip technology. The expense is still greater, but will eventually level out as more establishments revamp current systems. Consumers are positive about the new developments, and complain of fewer glitches. In the future, arriving guests will likely be able to program their own personal smart phones with this technology, eliminating the need for a separate card.
When first introduced, RFID was designed for tracking. An item was labeled with a tag containing an integrated circuit and small antenna, which communicated with a database. Although these tags revolutionized package shipping, the same principle is applied today to control merchandise in retail outlets, or to track and manage on-site business inventory such as computers, but potential applications are unlimited.
Production is fast and relatively simple. Using a system of etching, vapor-depositing, or machine-stamping, the electronics can be applied to light-weight, paper-like surfaces with ease. When referred to as a unit, antenna and chip are called an inlay. Most have more than one antenna, and the chip stores or accesses the necessary information, including room identification and other pertinent data.
When the antenna detects the right signal, the card comes alive. It is programmed to connect with a device called an interrogator, or reader, which asks for information and gives instructions per its program. After receiving a radio signal from the tag, a reader communicates with a centralized computer system in order to carry out what has been requested, making RFID ideal for unlocking rooms and other devices.
The result is a more pleasing and trouble-free guest experience. When approached by someone carrying a card, doors unlock automatically, and lights or drapes can be programmed to open or turn on when the door opens. In resort areas, people wearing swimsuits no longer need be concerned about what to do with personal items, because their card already knows which nearby locker to open.
Hotel operators can also place these chips in items that are relatively expensive to replace, but which commonly find their way into guest suitcases at checkout time. These include not only towels and bathrobes, but even bed-sheets and tablecloths. The printed circuits are not only durable but also washable, and help track and control thousands of items which must be laundered daily.
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.
The cards wear out less frequently than magnetic-strip technology. The expense is still greater, but will eventually level out as more establishments revamp current systems. Consumers are positive about the new developments, and complain of fewer glitches. In the future, arriving guests will likely be able to program their own personal smart phones with this technology, eliminating the need for a separate card.
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