RFID and the Shanghai World Exposition 2010

Foreigners might be surprised to hear that most Chinese have not heard of the World Expo until Shanghai won the bid and even then, most Chinese thought it was a sophisticated Canton Fair set in a huge theme park with geeky technologies on display. Thanks to the massive marketing campaign and increasing media attention firmly placed on the expo attractions such as the opulent China Pavilion and the wonderfully hairy, incandescent British Pavilion, locals are starting to anticipate the Expo with more and more excitement.

Fiona and I are summer interns at Xerady and before my stint here, I probably knew as much about RFID as I know about Chinese opera. To me, the Expo, themed “Better City, Better Life”, is all about eye-catching landmark buildings and amazing exhibitions, cultural activities and artistic performances.  However, we were tasked with a different challenge – to find out where and how RFID is represented at the Shanghai World Expo and how it presented an alternative perspective in bringing RFID into the public domain. I look forward to witnessing how RFID plays a part in the expo and around the world to make life easier, safer and more convenient. So with a camera in hand and Fiona, in tow, we set off on a discovery mission with our first stop at the Information and Communications Pavilion.

Once inside, we were met with a welcome contrast--the tranquil interior bathed in deep blue light, producing an almost futuristic effect. We were given a personal handheld device at the entrance and instructed to choose from a selection of hopes and dreams for the future. I wished for a future world where travel would be immediate (the Expo exacerbated my intolerance of crowds and queues). A happy, healthy life and a world without disease were also on my agenda. The handheld devices or Information and Communication Terminals (ICTs), incorporated RFID, not only help us navigate seamlessly around the pavilion but also collect our feedback regarding our experience and impressions of the electronic tour.

An area where we received a real sense of RFID as a way of life, was the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA), which showcases the highlights of individual cities, how they improve efficiency in city life and promote communication within the city.

Xerafy headquarter,through widespread use of Smart Card technology; its connectivity through radio frequency identification(RFID) technologies and its strength in creativity and innovation.  Echoing the theme "Smart Card, Smart City, Smart Life.", we were able to interactively experience the everyday life of Hong Kong, through various demonstrations starting from arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, being one of only two airports in the world using RFID technology to handle the passenger baggage.

We were thrilled to also experience RFID as they are widely used throughout Hong Kong such as the Octopus cards for public transportation, auto toll ways and parking, logistics and supply chain management, food safety management, retail management,  library management, including emergingapplications for the education, medical care and facility management for the construction industry.  For more information on “RFID for Facility Management” and other whitepapers, please check out Xerafy's resource page.

In seeing the multifunctional applications of RFID technology, it is clear that RFID helps bring some sanity to the increasing pace of a modern society - Hong Kong’s embrace of the technology must be an invitation for other cities to follow.  Fittingly also, Xerafy's entry into the RFID scene, is evidently in tune with the future needs of the market and it is blindingly obvious that Xerafy is changing the rules of the game.

For more pictures of the World Expo 2010, please visit the Xerafy's Facebook page.

Sarah and Fiona Lewis