If you're willing to spend a bit more, there are lots of industrial RFID readers that fit in a similar footprint (though requiring mains power), with ~100+ meter ranges that can process tens of thousands of tags per second.

Of course, nobody even a little bit serious about security treats the contents of the tag memory as a secret. On the other hand, there are tons of vendors (particularly in the IOT space), that don't care about infosec at all.

Yeah I'm not sure if RFID alone would cut it. For instance, would the return signal from 15x RFIDs of the same item be distinguishable enough from 16x? I assume they would weigh items as well, just like the self checkouts. Waiting for the technical information.

It's not clear yet how many items are using RFID. They say they are using "computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning" akin to what is used in self-driving cars.

So there are some concerns if you pickup an item then put it back in the wrong place, will it detect it was still left in the store, or will it charge you? Putting it back in the right spot, refunds you, but it's not obvious otherwise.

We really need to know more from the Amazon employees that are using it.

It sounds a lot like Minority Report style stuff going on, and I think it is more a tech demo than a full concept they'll carry out in mass. The information on the path the customer takes, what they get and all that is probably worth a ton, and helps offset other costs with the system... though most of those costs are offset by having fewer employees... We are quickly reaching what CGP Grey noted in his video *relate=http://videosift.com/video/Humans-Need-Not-Apply where we need less and less people to do the lower end jobs... and those shelves look like they can be filled from the back, which is easier on robots.

The packaging for every item must have an embedded RFID. An idea from about a decade back. One of the worries back then was that people could scan your garbage and learn a lot about you. People probably don't care about that nowadays.

he's talked about in the past that they wanted to do an episode on if the RFIDs in credit cards were secure. They were quickly shutdown by the credit card companies and kept from doing this.

I'm sure there's a mechanical fallback. My Jetta has keyless entry (the doors unlock when you touch the handle so long as you have the key on you) and keyless ignition (again, the key has to be inside the car) but if the battery goes dead, you can still unlock the door the traditional way and the car can detect the dead key if you hold it against the steering column (RFID, I'm guessing).

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I got to go with Sepacore on this one if we are talking about the ATM just suddenly starts spitting money out on the ground without being prompted to do so and there is a mad rush for the cash.
First I highly doubt they record every single serial number they put into the ATM. The bank people are paid by the hour, and banks are among, if not the, the most profitable business per dollar earned, so they wouldn't waste time counting every single serial number. They do count the total dollars in and out before that teller leaves for the day. Now there is a slim chance it can read the number as it spits it out, but I have to doubt it is doing that.
Second, as pointed out, the money is traded too fast. Let's say the ATM spit out $2000, and you got $80 in the mad rush. Odds are that money will be spent before the bank/FBI and everyone gets involved in looking over the video. Then that money is likely to have been given as change. So even in the unlikely event that the ATM has an optical scanner to read the numbers it dispenses, it would be useless as the money would have traded hands too many times by the time they put a trace on it... even if it had an RFID chip in it, it would be too late.
That all said, the video does have you. They might not know how much you took or which ones you took, but the video does have you taking some in the mad rush. They will likely eventually ask you to return what you took. So Yogi is in part right on that one...
Now. If we are are simply talking about the ATM gives out some extra money out when you do a withdraw (you withdraw $80 and it accidentally gives you $100) and don't return it, then they probably be able to tell when it malfunctioned, and will seek you out quickly.

Had to replace original video with similar video as original was removed for showing "dangerous" actions. The actions are the same (find rfid chip, place screwdriver or nail on top, hit with hammer.)

Well, now you're making me think you got ripped off by greedy capitalists who weren't honest with you about what they're offering you.

Who chipped your dog? What service did you purchase from them? Did they tell you it was an alternative to getting a license, because they provide the animal control services for your area?

You need to be registered with animal control. They're not just doing it to discern pet from stray, but also to keep an eye on the pet population, the flow of animals in & out of homes, etc. And of course the fee is helping defray the cost of the entire animal control operation, not just tags.

Now I personally am not in love with the idea of charging a fee to pet owners. Economically speaking, it'd make more sense for animal control to pay people $5-$10 to register their pets, and then pay for the entire budget of animal control (including that $5-$10 responsible owner bonus) with property taxes, since the bulk of animal control's costs are aimed at picking up strays and helping maintain public health & safety for a geographic region, not tags & registry.

Would you prefer that set up? I would.

>> ^blankfist:

That aside, @NetRunner, thanks for the history lesson, but the point is that I've already taken the proper precautions in giving him his vacines and even gone above and beyond when giving him tracking (tags + RFID), so I don't need the government to charge me that $20 a month. See? I don't require their one-size-fits-all solution to lost dogs. We, in the private sector, already have that covered.
By the way, if Animal Control ever picked up my dog, they'd first see the tag and call me. In case that was lost they'd most likely scan for the RFID chip. So, why do they need me to pay for a (emphasis mine) YEARLY REGISTRATION FEE?
It's obviously to generate revenue not for protection since I've already covered my basis. So, please, respond to that. Thanks.

Well, calling me a dipshit is probably unnecessary, though I'm more than fine with it. As always. I'm not going to summon dag here like some other Sifters.

That aside, @NetRunner, thanks for the history lesson, but the point is that I've already taken the proper precautions in giving him his vacines and even gone above and beyond when giving him tracking (tags + RFID), so I don't need the government to charge me that $20 a month. See? I don't require their one-size-fits-all solution to lost dogs. We, in the private sector, already have that covered.

By the way, if Animal Control ever picked up my dog, they'd first see the tag and call me. In case that was lost they'd most likely scan for the RFID chip. So, why do they need me to pay for a (emphasis mine) YEARLY REGISTRATION FEE?

It's obviously to generate revenue not for protection since I've already covered my basis. So, please, respond to that. Thanks.

>> ^blankfist:

I have tags. I also have an RFID chip. It's not about that, but thanks for making assumptions and calling me a dipshit.
So what now? Any other bright ideas why your Democratic "Vote Obama 2012" city government wants me to register him? What's your mundane explanation now? I can tell you: it's $$$$.


I guess I was giving you too much benefit of the doubt and figured "I just found out" was just some rhetorical flourish, not that you really didn't know you needed to register your pet and pay a fee to animal control. Also too, they give you a tag (at least around here they do).

As for why, I'll quote from the LA county Department of Animal Care & Control's website:

California state law requires that all dogs over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies, and be licensed through the local animal care and control agency. The County of Los Angeles requires the same provisions, and also requires rabies vaccination and licensing for cats.

Licensing is an important means of identification and can help you find your pet if it becomes lost. License revenues are a vital means of support to help the Department promote and protect human and animal safety.

In the United States, efforts to protect and control domestic animals, primarily dogs, cats and horses, began early in the 19th century. In 1863, the City of Los Angeles established a public animal pound. A few years later, in 1872, a municipal ordinance was approved that directed the city Marshall to register and license dogs.

>> ^NetRunner:

>> ^blankfist:
I just found out I need to register my dog with LA County for $20 a year or else I'll be fined. I do enjoy these wonderful protections my government gives me.
@NetRunner, of your 3 answers above which does this fall into? Is the premise false? Did social conservatives take over the bluest of blue cities in the state? Or did the corporations/wealthy want me to register my pet? I'm having a hard time determining it on my own. Oh! And Vote Obama 2012!

That one goes in the 4th category I listed at the end. It has a mundane explanation.
Do you want animal control to think your pet is a stray? No? Then get a tag for your dog, dipshit.


I have tags. I also have an RFID chip. It's not about that, but thanks for making assumptions and calling me a dipshit.

So what now? Any other bright ideas why your Democratic "Vote Obama 2012" city government wants me to register him? What's your mundane explanation now? I can tell you: it's $$$$.

*lies.

I guarantee this can either backfire (allowing ID thieves to gain your I-D even more easily through social engineering), or can be used to track individuals. The applications, key fobs, or cards all can easily have a form of RFID or other forms of tracking implemented inside of them, and could likely make finding out what you are up to even easier than before. There are far better methods than the solution suggested above, such as better protocols, encryption standards, or simple web of trust that can be implemented without the need for any need for political debates.

Bottom line - This is something unnecessary, and there are already much better, cheaper and far less invasive methods of security.

I thought Bush was the Antichrist for all his RFID implant propaganda... Of course the Fox News types wouldn't say that, at least not these days... I've heard crazy talk like that from people I know. It just astounds me what people will believe. This is perhaps my biggest problem with faith, it encourages people to accept too much with too little evidence and people like Rush, Fox News, Beck and this guy take advantage of it and lure in the gullible and weak minded.