RFID, or radio-frequency identification tags are commonly found in things like the EZPass and other forms of public transit technology. However, these tags can be expensive to make and could never compete with the cost-effectiveness of barcodes until now.
According to a recent story run in MIT’s Technology Review, researchers in South Korea have printed RFID circuits on plastic films using a combination of industrial methods: roll-to-roll printing, ink-jet printing, and silicone rubber-stamping, making for a much more affordable and cost-effective type of tag. This new technology of making RFID tags could change the way we identify products in manufacturing and retail, however, it doesn’t look like they’ll be replacing barcodes just yet.
While RFID tags are simple to use and very effective, there are still some challenges in the works that make them less viable than traditional barcodes. For example, these new printed RFID circuits cannot be read as easily by scanners, plus, they’re still not affordable for mass use and production.