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.
The circuits require very little manual labor to produce, and can be stamped, printed, vapor-deposited or etched onto paper-like materials. Together with the antenna, the chip is called an inlay, and most have more than one antenna to improve reception. The circuit is the remote brain for the card, and contains identifying information as well as other data pertinent to a particular guest.
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.
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.
Many hotel extras are expensive to routinely replace, but some commonly find their way into guest suitcases upon departure. Tags are easily sewn into complementary bathrobes or towels, and items that need daily laundering, such as linens and bed-sheets, can be tracked more easily. Not only are the flat circuits water resistant, but they also hold up inside commercial dryers, providing accurate inventory control.
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.
The circuits require very little manual labor to produce, and can be stamped, printed, vapor-deposited or etched onto paper-like materials. Together with the antenna, the chip is called an inlay, and most have more than one antenna to improve reception. The circuit is the remote brain for the card, and contains identifying information as well as other data pertinent to a particular guest.
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.
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.
Many hotel extras are expensive to routinely replace, but some commonly find their way into guest suitcases upon departure. Tags are easily sewn into complementary bathrobes or towels, and items that need daily laundering, such as linens and bed-sheets, can be tracked more easily. Not only are the flat circuits water resistant, but they also hold up inside commercial dryers, providing accurate inventory control.
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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