The demonstration of the first continuous wave radio generation
and transmission of radio signals by Ernst F. W. Alexanderson in
1906 signalled the beginning of modern radio communication and,
subsequently, radio frequency identification (RFID). RFID is the
convergence of radio broadcast technology and radar, although
many of its early developments are not widely known due to the
military significance of this technology. Most documented
histories of RFID technology trace its development to the
radiobased identification systems from World War II, when the
British Air Force used radar to distinguish Allied aircraft from
enemy aircraft. ( HILARY BRODEY/GETTY IMAGES) Commercial
development of RFID began in the late 1960s. Arguably the first
and most widespread commercial use of RFID was in the
development of electronic article surveillance (EAS) equipment
to counter theft. Although this system could only detect the
presence or absence of a tag, the tags themselves could be made
cost-effectively and provided an ef