VeryFields Blog: XERAFY and partners are collaborating to provide custom solutions for the oil industry

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theRTLSBlog.com: Precyse Technologies Appoints Andy Mullins Chief Executive Officer New CEO Brings Strength in Growing Technology Companies OLD GREENWICH, Conn. – July 13, 2010 – Precyse Technologies, the industry leader in real-time location and supply-chain visibility solutions based on next-generation active RFID and asset network technologies, today announced the appointment of Andy Mullins to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Mullins brings more than 25 years of executive experience in leading software and wireless communications companies. "I’m excited to join the Precyse team; few companies have the comprehensive product offerings and experience that Precyse offers in real-time asset visibility solutions,” said Mullins. “We will continue delivering high-quality, turnkey solutions to our customers and partners, continuously expanding market share in the global manufacturing and defense markets. All of our resources and energies are directed at taking supply chain management into the 21st century.” Prior to joining Precyse, Mullins was president and CEO of DataPath, Inc., a leading provider of satellite and wireless communications to the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as to commercial customers. Under his leadership, DataPath grew to become the preferred provider of mobile ground communications networks in government and commercial marketplaces. “Precyse is on a fast-growth trajectory, and Andy’s extensive experience in building software and communications companies is vital as we drive an industry standard for asset communication,” said Paul Latchford, chairman of the Precyse Board of Directors. “Throughout his career, Andy has consistently demonstrated that he thinks strategically and grows businesses organically into industry leaders that provide world-class solutions to their customers. We are excited to have him onboard.” Prior to DataPath, Mr. Mullins served in various executive roles in DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation), MCI Communications, EMC and Candle Corporation, the world’s largest privately-held software company, where he was President and Chief Operating Officer, leading the acquisition and merger of Candle into IBM. About Precyse Technologies Precyse Technologies, the industry leader in real-time asset and supply chain visibility solutions, offers last-mile communication platforms that connect assets, machines, and IT platforms on a unified information network at one-mile range. The network automates data collection, enables managerial intelligence, and facilitates savings through inventory reduction, process automation and human error elimination, improved quality and supply chain agility. N3, the first bi-directional, wireless asset network standard from Precyse takes a leap forward in RFID evolution. Combined with the Precyse iLocate™ product suite, the Precyse solution delivers asset identification, location, wireless sensing, and remote machine control to Fortune 500 manufacturers and governments with a proven, under one year return. Coupled with the Precyse Smart Agent, a ‘cell phone’ built for assets, Precyse offers an out-of-the-box solution, introducing a new way for manufacturers, logistics providers and government organizations around the world to manage operations. To learn more, visit us at http://www.precysetech.com/ For more information contact: Michele Moore Emerge PR mmoore@emergepr.com 781-353-6414 x.261 ###

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theRTLSBlog.com: www.VeryFields.net adds Battery Assisted Passive tags to its database, the world's largest information source about RFID tags.

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PRWEB: (PRWEB) April 15, 2010 -- Vancouver-based Guard RFID Solutions Inc has announced the release of its new real-time locating system (RTLS) middleware engine – Argus 2.0. The updated Argus platform adds features designed to unlock additional functionality and increases end-user control for industrial, enterprise and healthcare applications. Standards-based Argus 2.0 is a highly configurable, easily-integrated platform supporting complete business solutions based on GuardRFID’s breakthrough active RFID tag technology.

“We are excited about offering our solution partners and customers the enhanced capabilities available in Argus 2.0. This reflects our commitment to continuously advancing our technology and staying at the forefront of what is possible in the RFID space,” said Zahir Abji, GuardRFID President & CEO. The new Argus 2.0 release delivers systems integrators and solution providers enhanced features, greater control over acquired tag data, and algorithms that provide better fault tolerance for external interfaces that have stability or reliability problems. Additionally, the Argus 2.0 comes with fully integrated interfaces for industry standard access control systems and all major CCTV systems.

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Pixavi: Pixavi today announced its new intrinsically safe, wireless, real time location system (RTLS), enabling organizations to precisely track location of both equipment and personnel. The RFID tag is certified for both Mining, Chemical plants and Oil&Gas according to IECex and ATEX and covering Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2.

Intrinsically Safe Real Time Location Tracking Tag"We are very excited to introduce this technology to hazardous area applications. WLAN location tracking technology provides close to instant return on investment both from a safety and from an efficiency perspective," stated Pixavi Sales Director, Thomas Zaubi.

Using the award winning RTLS technology from Ekahau, Inc. the Xtag can operate on any existing standard Wi-Fi network, which eliminates the need to install dedicated infrastructure that otherwise would increase the equipment and installation cost considerably.

"By introducing this innovative client application to our diverse explosion proof wireless network product range, we are able to offer our customers a full range of Wi-Fi products, including access points, antennas, VoiP, wireless video communication, wireless surveillance cameras and location tracking devices," Zaubi continues.

Pixavi CEO, Christian Rokseth, added, "Wireless networks are already widely available in hazardous areas, which mean an instant access to this technology for many organizations. Today's worldwide financial situation puts a high demand on efficient and automated operation. Combining the Xtag location system with our Xpoint explosion proof and intrinsically safe access points, with the Xbeam EX explosion proof antennas, enables us to provide customer a full turn-key system. With this complete offering, our customers can now deploy a cost efficient, secure and solid RFID RTLS system for hazardous area Zone 0, zone 1 and zone 2."

Mr. Rokseth continues, "This new RTLS solution perfectly complements our state of the art wireless suite for hazardous area, like Pixavi's own intrinsically safe 802.11n wireless video communication technology, explosion proof wireless network producs, Wireless CCTV products and also third party wireless VoIP, PDAs, Rugged laptops and wireless Sensor Technology in order to increase efficiency and safety on these installations."

Pricing & Availability:

The Xtag is already available for ordering, with a pricing starting from 153 USD per tag. The Xtag is compatible with Ekahau RTLS software which is sold separately.

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Your Industry News: aSpanish Construction Companies FCC and ACCIONA Implement Employee Tracking Solution for Tunnel Workers' Safety, With Ekahau's T301BD Wireless LAN Staff Badge and Pager

Ekahau Inc., the worldwide leader in High Performance Wi-Fi-based Real Time Location Systems (RTLS), today announced that together with its Spanish integration partner, BAUTEL Comunicaciones S.L., it has successfully implemented a solution to track workers in underground tunnel projects as a joint venture with the construction companies FCC (Fomento de Construcciones Y Contratas, S.A.) and ACCIONA S.A.. The implementation is based on the Ekahau Wi-Fi RTLS solution that provides real-time location information on the whereabouts of people and assets anywhere within a sites Wi-Fi network coverage area, using the existing enterprise Wi-Fi network as the infrastructure platform.

"This was the first deployment we have done using Ekahau's new T301BD badge," comments Mr Fernando Carnicero, Manager at Bautel Comunicaciones S.L.. "Ekahau is an ideal solution for this purpose, as it provides both the real-time location of the worker in case of an emergency, but also two-way communication with the workers in the tunnel, through the badge's text messaging capability. This has a very clear value to the construction company to increase the safety of its employees, as the construction site is operational 24/7 in 3 work shifts."

The current implementation is operational in the Vigo, Galicia, construction project, where FCC - ACCIONA is excavating 2 tunnels both 8 kilometers (5 miles) in length. The Wi-Fi network is installed in the tunnels using fiber optic cabling for data, voice and tracking purposes. As the workers enter the tunnel in the beginning of their shift, they check in their ID cards for an Ekahau wireless T301BD safety badge. In case of an emergency, management is immediately alerted with the last known location of each worker in the tunnel. The solution also enables workers to call for help by pulling the emergency switch on the badge itself. Once the switch is pulled, safety personnel and management receive the help request with the location information of the incident.

"We have seen an increasing demand for personnel safety applications in several industries." comments Mr Arttu Huhtiniemi, Ekahau VP Product Management. "This Spanish tunnel work site is an excellent example of the value Ekahau's technology can provide in safeguarding the day to day well being of individual workers in these types of environments. Unlike other similar active RFID solutions, Ekahau uses the existing Wi-Fi network as the infrastructure, so the customer only needs to deploy Ekahau software and tags, which makes the deployment very fast and cost effective. In addition, the system provides a full 2-way communication capability for workers through text messaging over Wi-Fi, which is not available from any other RTLS vendor."

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RFID Journal: Nov. 23, 2009—RFID Journal has announced that it is now accepting submissions for the 2010 RFID Journal Awards, which recognize companies that have distinguished themselves by their successful use of RFID technology. The winners will be announced at RFID Journal LIVE! 2010, the company's eighth annual conference and exhibition, which will be held on Apr. 14-16, at the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando, Fla.

The deadline for all submissions is Jan. 29, 2010. The awards will be given in five categories:

Best RFID Implementation: This award will be given to an end-user company utilizing RFID to improve its manufacturing, supply chain or retail operations. The winner will be the company that best demonstrates how radio frequency identification delivers real value to shareholders.

Best Use of RFID to Enhance a Product or Service: This award will be given to an end-user company that has employed RFID technology to enhance an existing product or service. The winner will be the firm that best demonstrates how it uses RFID to provide additional value to its customers.

Most Innovative Use of RFID: This award will be given to the end-user company with the most novel use of RFID technology to solve a business problem, deliver a return on investment to shareholders or improve customer service.

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theRTLSBlog.com: University Research Concludes Real Time Location Systems Can Transform Hospitals Indiana and Purdue University Research Reveals Cost Savings, Operational Efficiency, Improved Patient Care and Higher Staff Morale

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. and MORRISVILLE, N.C. (November 17, 2009) – Results from the first multidisciplinary university study examining the impact of a Real Time Location System (RTLS) deployed throughout a hospital show that the technology for tracking mobile medical equipment is driving increased operational efficiency and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, while also enabling nurses to spend more time with patients and improve staff morale.

A thorough evaluation of the impact of implementing the RadarFind RTLS at Southeastern Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in Lumberton, N.C. analyzed the system’s influence on the management of equipment support, nursing and patient care, as well as hospital finances. The study results, soon to be published in the Journal of Clinical Engineering, revealed that the technology allowed staff to reduce time spent searching for tagged equipment by 96 percent, saved the hospital $750,000 in indirect costs, and illuminated potential future benefits as the new technology is further integrated into the hospital’s operations and culture.

“The level of data generated by these systems has the potential to profoundly change the management of technology and the delivery of patient care,” said Barbara Christe, the lead researcher for the study team and associate professor and program director of Biomedical Engineering Technology at the joint research campus Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. In 2008, Christe, her colleagues and students received the 2008 Outstanding Management & Technology Paper award from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for their research on adapting radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to a clinical application.

The research team also included a professor of electrical and computer engineering technology and an associate professor of accounting from the business school. “Southeastern Regional Medical Center is a model for how a clear, cooperative, synergistic relationship between hospital administrators and various clinical staff departments can support the success of a real time location system in meeting stated objectives,” said Christe.

Leveraging real-time data to make hospitals more efficient and improve patient care

SRMC estimates that nurses spent at least one hour per day searching for equipment, resulting in an hour saved for locating tagged equipment since the RadarFind system was installed. On an annual basis for the 120 nurses working at the hospital, the annual indirect savings is $750,000, and nurses are able to spend more time with patients.

Additional savings may be realized from reducing capital expenditures based on using equipment utilization data gathered by the system. During the study, RadarFind representatives demonstrated that utilization data could support a smaller amount of infusion pumps than the hospital was planning to purchase. Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro, N.C. (not part of this study)deployed RadarFind in 2006 and was able to reduce a planned infusion pump purchase by 20 percent in less than one year after installation from evaluating the utilization data. This resulted in a capital purchase savings of $276,000 and annual operating cost savings of $27,000.

In surveys and interviews, clinical engineering staff reported that the time spent searching for tagged equipment has been reduced from 4 hours a day to less than 10 minutes. In addition, preventive maintenance compliance rates for tagged equipment have improved from 90 percent monthly to a consistent 100 percent. Nursing staff are also reporting greatly improved hospital efficiency as they are now able to locate previously “hidden” equipment, and reported job satisfaction has risen accordingly.

“As a former nurse I understand the frustration experienced by nursing staff when they must search for equipment,” said Joanne Anderson, president and chief executive officer of SRMC. “This technology supports our nurses and enables them to spend more time caring for patients, ensuring that our patients receive the utmost quality of care and benefitting hospital staff morale.”

RadarFind is the only RTLS to feature a three-state, color-coded status switch on tags to mark equipment as available (green), in-use (yellow) or needs cleaning/decontamination (red). This can be a powerful tool when leveraged as part of a hospital’s infection control procedures. For example, a piece of equipment with a “dirty” status tag may be identified if it is mistakenly placed in a clean storage room. In addition, by analyzing the time-stamped location history of a piece of equipment or patient, data gathered by the RTLS can be used to track an infection in a hospital. Causal relationships between contaminated medical devices and infected patients can also be easily determined.

Wide-ranging potential for future impact

The study identified initiatives that could increase the benefits of RTLS, ranging from eliminating the need for an annual physical inventory to referencing the history of equipment used in each patient room to ensure accuracy when billing a patient or insurance company. Other suggestions included analyzing data to determine where a piece of equipment is most likely to be used in order to develop a better storage plan for those items. An RTLS will undoubtedly help reduce equipment loss due to misplacement or theft.

RadarFind, the only RTLS designed by former doctors and hospital administrators to meet the unique requirements for tracking mobile medical equipment and people in hospitals, was recently acquired by TeleTracking Technologies, Inc., the market leader in patient flow automation. Together, the companies will continue to improve hospital operations by linking information gathered through wireless sensor networks, RTLS and intelligent software to hospital procedures thereby reducing waste and driving more efficient processes for patient care.

“The transformational results attainable by implementing our suite of automated tracking solutions for hospitals are influencing process changes throughout the facility, as evidenced by this study,” said Michael Nelson, president of RadarFind. “The combination of technologies from RadarFind and TeleTracking offers hospitals the most comprehensive answer to the need for tracking and accountability, and reducing unnecessary costs while improving efficiencies and overall patient care.”

About RadarFind

RadarFind’s Real Time Location System uses an innovative wireless sensor network platform for tracking medical equipment and patients that is highly accurate, yet nondisruptive to hospital operations. RadarFind Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TeleTracking Technologies, Inc., a leader in patient flow automation solutions with more than 800 hospital clients in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.teletracking.com or www.radarfind.com.

About IUPUI

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is Indiana's premier urban university, with 20 schools and academic units which grant degrees in more than 200 programs from both Indiana University and Purdue University. For more information, please visit www.iupui.edu.

About Southeastern Regional Medical Center

Southeastern Regional Medical Center is the hub of a comprehensive health care system in southeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit, fully-accredited medical center offers the Southeastern Heart Center, managed by Duke University Health System, birthing suites and a combination of acute care, intensive care and psychiatric services to over 13,000 inpatients and 75,000 outpatients annually. For more information, please visit www.srmc.org.

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The Providence Journal:
By Bruce Landis

Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE — Governor Carcieri has vetoed legislation that would have limited the use of electronic devices that track people as well as objects such as motor vehicles, something privacy advocates here and across the country are concerned about.
Called radio frequency identification devices, and often referred to as “tags,” they use radio signals that link the person or object tracked to a computer system. They have become controversial in Rhode Island when local school officials considered using them to track students, and they have also attracted attention because they are essential to the state’s electronic toll-collection system, E-ZPass.
The governor vetoed two bills that would have banned the use of RFID tags to track students and would have required police and other law enforcement agencies to get court orders before they could get access to toll data, similar to the requirements for other searches and seizures. (The data would have remained available without a court order for toll enforcement.)
The governor’s veto messages to the General Assembly, made public Tuesday, objected to preventing local officials from using the tags to keep track of students. He cited a number of circumstances where he said the tags could be useful, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks or even for routine events such as field trips.
A sponsor of one of the bills and the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped develop and supported the legislation, criticized the vetoes.
Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III, D-Providence, the sponsor of one of the bills, said the devices suggest “ ‘big brother’ watching over everyone.”
Amy Vitale, the ACLU’s program coordinator, said the devices “put information in the hands of people who can use it for nefarious purposes” that have nothing to do with its intended purposes.
“We don’t think the schools should be in charge of an RFID program,” she said. “This is not something that government should be involved in any way.”
Ciccone said he has worked for years on similar bills that Carcieri vetoed, continually amending the legislation to address the governor’s objections in past messages and to accommodate interested groups such as special-education programs.
As for tracking students, he said, “If the parent wants it, the bill allows it.”
Ciccone also questioned whether the student-tracking system would be practical. For instance, he said, putting RFID chips in students’ backpacks would often end up tracking the backpacks, not the students.
The veto messages did not address the related issue of data being collected through systems such as E-ZPass.

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Business Wire: ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RF Controls, LLC, creators of the standards-based Intelligent Tracking and Control System (ITCS®), which provides real-time location of items that have been tagged with inexpensive passive UHF RFID tags, today announced a further breakthrough in system performance.

Using advanced, patent pending signal processing algorithms, a single ITCS Signal Acquisition and Source Location (SASL®) “smart antenna” can now accurately determine the ranges of all tags it can read, to an individual accuracy of 1’ (30cm). Ranging accuracy is consistent across the full operating range of a SASL. This significant innovation means that each SASL can now accurately locate tagged items in 3D, which in turn means that ITCS provides even higher integrity tag location data. ITCS’ unique capabilities provide end-users with valuable real-time data to address latent business process issues and improve operating efficiency.

In RW Baird’s “Supply Chain Technology – RFID Monthly”, industry analyst Reik Read provided an objective narrative on ITCS, concluding “We view the ability to scan specific zones as a key attribute that can help locate missing items, provide real-time out of stock information, improve pick processes and can aid in inventory transfers, all in real-time.”

RFID Journal Magazine heralded “beam-steerable phased-array antennas” as a top 10 technology to watch during 2009. ITCS Bidirectional Electronically Steerable Phased Array (BESPA™) antenna technology achieves exceptionally long operating range and has transformed the market’s expectations of the capabilities of passive UHF RFID systems.

ITCS’ unique and powerful combination of features gives end-users the ability to automatically identify, locate and track tagged items on a zonal basis; ITCS eliminates the need for restrictive, nodal data capture points such as portals. Tagged items may be arbitrarily situated within the area or volume being monitored. Simply tag items of interest with standards compliant (ISO 180006-C / EPCglobal UHF Gen2) passive UHF RFID tags, deploy ITCS to “light up” the environment in which those tagged items are present, and you get accurate, real-time location of all those tagged items, enabling efficient, automated inventory and asset management.

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