Open PR: (openPR) - Out Board have been appointed principal global re-seller for the entertainment and presentation technology sectors by Ubisense, the Cambridge UK based leaders in precision real-time location systems (RTLS).

The move follows on from Out Board's substantial successes with their own audio showcontrol application of the Ubisense technology, TiMax Tracker, which tracks actors and performers around stage to automatically localize their amplified audio signature via real-time control of the TiMax2 SoundHub audio matrix processor.

Out Board have also supplied this highly versatile precision tracking technology to control other third-party audio showcontrollers such as the Meyer LCS system, and provided support to developments in other disciplines such as control of lighting, cameras, multimedia servers and advanced showcontrol environments such as the CAST BlackBox system.

Ubisense CEO Richard Green comments: "Out Board understand the language and dynamics of the entertainment technology industry, and they have the in-depth technical and commercial experience to fully develop and support these exciting new initiatives. Their well-established distribution network also gives them a truly global reach to help apply these skills, we're confident they're well placed to maximise the potential of Ubisense in this sector."

The Ubisense core RTLS platform employs a unique combination of angle-of-arrival (AOA) and time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) analysis to deliver highly reliable and accurate location information to a resolution of 15cm (6") in three dimensions. Out Board add their own software application layers to provide real-time visualisations and application-specific showcontrol GUI's. A network of compact Ubisense sensors receives 6-8GHz UWB radar-frequency pulses from miniature tags worn by the performers, and the resulting real-time localization data is used to deliver either stepped or continuous positional control of external media peripherals via MIDI or ethernet.

Just as demand has rocketed for effective RTLS resources in Ubisense's core enterprise markets such as personnel or asset tracking and process control, so the entertainment industry has also seen a growing interest in this area. Out Board's Robin Whittaker remarks "People in our industry seem very tweaked by RTLS allowing them to now do things that were just not possible a few years ago. We know a lot of those people, and we're delighted to be in a position deliver them viable solutions to help open up these new possibilities."

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DOT Med News:
October 26, 2009
by Brendon Nafziger, Writer

The Georgia Tech Research Institute announced plans this month to test whether a common tracking system used in hospitals and warehouses interferes with medical devices.

The Atlanta-based applied research organization is developing protocols for its decade-old medical device testing lab to investigate the effect of radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology on implantable medical devices like defibrillators and pacemakers.

Although RFID is a ubiquitous technology that uses radio waves to track items in hospitals, stores and libraries to monitor inventory and prevent theft, nobody really knows if it has the potential to interfere with sensitive, and lifesaving, devices like implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs).

"There's a potential there for interference," Ralph Herkert, director of GTRI's Medical Device Test Center, tells DOTmed News. "Basically, pacemakers and defibs are monitoring bodily functions, so they have sensing circuitry," he continues. "Any time you have sensing circuitry, you have the possibility for an interfering signal to get there."

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PRWEB: Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) October 24, 2009 -- Guard RFID Solutions Inc. announced today that the Middle Tennessee Medical Center (MMTC) has chosen its TotGuard Infant Protection solution for its new $267 million facility in Murfreesboro, TN. The facility is to be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, and GuardRFID's TotGuard system will play a pivotal role in the protection of newborn and pediatric patients.

Guard RFID Solution's active RFID infant tracking TotGuard product is a true IP-based RFID infant tracking system, using existing Ethernet networks, so the system can be accessed across the whole facility, as well as remotely for monitoring and maintenance services. The system uses tags with a unique dual-tamper detection technology so as to reduce nuisance alarms, as well as the first tamper-detecting Umbilical tags.

"MTMC has been committed to equip our new facility with state-of-the-art technologies, and we set about to find an infant and pediatric security solution that would live up to this commitment", said Jennifer Garland, MTMC's project director, "We were very impressed with the capabilities of GuardRFID's new generation TotGuard Infant Security solution, with its IT-friendly platform and ease of use. We worked closely with several departments including maternal-infant services and security, and we are confident we've selected a safe, highly advanced system."

GuardRFID's Vice President of Sales, Beth Bandi stated that she is excited about deploying the TotGuard Active RFID tags at MTMC. "GuardRFID is continually adding features and capabilities to its TotGuard™ solution that have never been available in the past with other systems. MTMC's new facility being built promises to be a real showcase not only with uncompromised infant and patient security, but because it will also provide the highest quality of care. MTMC's choice of our TotGuard system is testament to the fact that GuardRFID has developed a true next generation RFID platform."

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TMC Net: October 21, 2009

Alien Technology Expands High-Performance Enterprise Category for RFID Reader Platform

By Nathesh, TMCnet Contributor

Alien Technology, a provider of UHF Gen 2 RFID products and services, has announced the release of a new next-generation EMEA Gen 2 RFID reader and the expansion of its high-performance enterprise category reader platform.

The new ALR-9900-EMA (News - Alert) reader is designed to the latest ETSI regulations, serving Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and comes densely packed with numerous feature-rich offerings.

The company has said that its Alien reader product line offers superior read-range and software interfaces to make it easier for customers to take advantage of RFID reporting for LAN- and WAN-based networks and Alien’s array of high-performance, flexible EPC Gen 2 RFID readers are easy to deploy and manage.

According to the company, the Alien ALR-9900 Enterprise Reader allows users to deploy manageable, robust, best-in-class EPC Gen 2 RFID solutions for supply chain, manufacturing and asset management applications. The ALR-9900 offers highly reliable, automatic data capture and supports key RFID platforms including Microsoft BizTalk RFID, IBM WebSphere 6.0, Oat Systems,Oracle ( News - Alert), GlobeRanger, BEA and many others.

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RFID News: Eastern Maine Medical Center’s (EMMC) newly renovated 32,000 square foot Imaging Center has recently installed a Real-time Locating System (RTLS) in order to better manage patient flow.

Versus Technology’s RTLS automatically captures time parameters related to each patient’s visit, including wait time and time to complete a particular imaging service.

Imaging Center staff can then make real-time comparisons to benchmarked goals, perform more accurate scheduling based on actual time to complete certain procedures, and better inform patients as to expected wait and procedure times.

Additionally, Versus automatically identifies room status as available, in-use, reserved, in-process (being cleaned) or unavailable based on patient locations

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PR-inside: Fargo, ND – October 22, 2009 – Intelligent InSites Inc., the leading provider of real-time enterprise visibility and automation solutions that dramatically improve healthcare efficiency and patient safety, announced the inaugural Intelligent InSites Partner Summit will be held October 27-28 in Fargo, ND.

For the event, Intelligent InSites is bringing together the leading software, service, and technology companies that provide real-time locating and sensing solutions. Together with the company’s own InSites Enterprise Visibility Platform (InSites Platform), they provide the most comprehensive enterprise solution for workflow, patient and staff safety, and asset management for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities.

During the event, Intelligent InSites will share vision, strategies, and new programs geared at accelerating the adoption of RTLS technologies throughout the healthcare industry. Several announcements related to partner programs, upcoming product features and enhancements, and a new best practices methodology and toolset will also be announced at the Intelligent InSites Partner Summit.

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Reuters: Savi Wins $6.6 Million Order From U.S. Defense Department for RFID Supply Chain Tracking Technologies Standards-based (ISO / DASH7) RFID Devices Facilitate Interoperability Among U.S. and Allied Defense Forces and Federal Agencies

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Savi®, a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) company and provider of RFID-based supply chain products and solutions, has been awarded orders totaling $6.6 million for standards-based active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking technologies and accompanying services under the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD's) RFID III procurement contract. The RFID tags, which are affixed to cargo containers and other supply chain assets, comply with the ISO 18000-7 standard (also called DASH7), enabling near real-time supply visibility and interoperability with allied defense forces and government organizations.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080123/AQW081LOGO)

The U.S. Army Information Technology, E-Commerce and Commercial Contracting Center (ITEC4) issued the procurement orders utilizing competitive procedures under the RFID-III contracting vehicle, which is a multiple award, indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a total value of $429.4 million. RFID III was established for active RFID hardware, software and engineering services, and is open to all U.S. military Services, U.S. Federal Agencies and non-U.S. defense forces.

"This initial order of DASH7 RFID devices marks the DoD's conversion of RFID products to an open global standard that will support multi-national interoperability and innovative solutions that can leverage sensor-rich networks," said David Stephens, chief executive officer of Savi Technology. "We're gratified to be both a long-term supplier of RFID solutions to the DoD, and now a pioneering supporter of its transition to standards-based technologies that will help provide war fighters with the right supplies at the right time to get the job done."

Savi received three orders with staggered delivery dates with the final deliveries due in three months. The contract includes orders for the Savi ST-654, which is an ISO 18000-7 compliant high-performance, data-rich active RFID tag widely used to track shipping containers, vehicles and other large and valuable assets; and, the Savi ST-621, (also ISO 18000-7 compliant), which is a lower-cost, license plate tag designed for quick commissioning that is ideal for tracking shipping containers, rolling stock and other conveyances. For the past dozen years, Savi has helped to build the DoD's In-Transit Visibility network, which is the world's largest active RFID-based cargo tracking system spanning more than 4,000 nodes across more than 40 countries. Savi RFID-based solutions also support other government agencies and international defense forces such as NATO, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Poland, and others. RFID III calls for "state-of-the-art" active RFID products compliant with ISO 18000-7 that provide "logistics tracking, locating, and health monitoring of commodities and assets." Savi actively participated in the development of ISO 18000-7, and offers a reasonable and non discriminatory licensing program for patent-protected protocols included in the international standard. Several commercial companies have licensed Savi's technology, including companies selected for possible awards under the RFID III contract.

Savi is a founding member of the DASH7 Alliance, a broad coalition of technology developers, manufacturers, test laboratories and government organizations committed to proliferating the commercial use of wireless sensor networks based on the ISO 18000-7 standard. For more information visit www.dash7.org

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RFID News: Genesis Health System has implemented AeroScout’s Wi-Fi RTLS for hospital-wide asset tracking and management at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa.

The solution uses Genesis Health System’s existing wireless network and consists of AeroScout Wi-Fi Tags, AeroScout Exciters and AeroScout MobileView software to track and manage about 700 items throughout the medical center, including infusion pumps, wheelchairs, stretchers and powered air-purifying respirators.

Using RFID to monitor these items significantly reduces the amount of time the staff spends searching for key equipment and gives the hospital a better idea of how to allocate its resources.

The AeroScout solution also plays an important role in the medical center’s disaster preparedness plan. Knowing the exact location of critical equipment has helped the logistics team demonstrate that it can react quickly and deliver the required equipment to the right places on time.

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Reuters: SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- InSync Software, Inc., provider of the fabric for the world's leading RFID, GPS and sensor-driven line-of-business software applications, announced today that the company has closed $4.7 million in Series B funding. The latest investment round was led by existing investors Intel Capital and Rustic Canyon Ventures, along with participation by strategic individual investors.

The funding comes as InSync experiences increasing momentum and growth in its business. In 2009 alone, InSync has doubled its customer and partner base and completed major deployments of its award-winning iApp platform and Applications by market-leading companies such as Dole Foods, Bayer, SonicWall and others. Additionally, InSync has been rapidly expanding its global presence with customer wins in Asia, the Middle East, Canada and elsewhere.

Much of this activity has been recognized by the marketplace, as InSync's products have increasingly garnered the attention of customers, partners and industry analysts alike in 2008 and 2009 - culminating in numerous product and company awards from organizations including NSF International (for Food Safety), Managing Automation (for Food Safety and Yard Management), Supply and Demand Chain Executive (for Supply Chain), Inbound Logistics (for Logistics)and others.

InSync has developed a strong partner network comprised of industry-leading hardware providers, systems integrators and technology companies such as IBM,IDENTEC Solutions, Intermec, Motorola, Hewlett Packard, Honeywell and Mojix.

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RFID News: Munich International Airport has announced that it will adopt AeroScout`s GPS and Wi-Fi RFID solution to track thousands of cargo and passenger baggage dollies as they move about the airport. AeroScout T6 GPS Wi-Fi Tags will be mounted on the airport`s cargo dollies, used by cargo companies to pick up and drop off packages, and passenger baggage dollies, used for transporting baggage between terminals and airplanes. The active tags use GPS to determine location of the assets and transmit the data over a standard Wi-Fi network, which the airport already has in place.

Knowing where dollies are at all times will help Munich Airport prevent operations delays or interruptions due to missing or lost items, and eliminate lengthy searches for dollies that are due for their annual maintenance inspections. In addition, the airport will also be able to charge cargo companies more accurately based on the location and usage of dollies, according to AeroScout.

Click here for complete story from RFID News