AT&T Introduces RFID and GPS-Based Solutions for K-12

US-based network carrier AT&T has introduced interoperable radio frequency identification and global positioning system-based mobile resource management solutions for the K-12 education segment in the US. This resource management solution is expected to enhance the K-12′s visibility into its facility and vehicular operations, to increase staff productivity, reduce costs, and to improve student safety, the company has claimed.

This new radio frequency identification (RFID) application from AT&T works in conjunction with mobile resource management (MRM) location-based services that use global positioning system (GPS) technology, wireless data network, and specialized hosted and managed applications.

According to AT&T, these new applications will enable K-12 to track school bus locations, monitor their speed and condition while on the road and report on events within vehicles. AT&T claims that by deploying the new RFID solution, the school districts will improve student safety, save money by routing their school buses efficiently and cutting down on fuel, maintenance and labor expenses. MRM relays vehicle location, speed and other data across the AT&T wireless data network and sends it to a website portal. Further, deploying RFID readers, in addition to tracking devices on school buses, enables monitoring staff to track the student’s movement and location of buses. Both RFID and MRM data are available to select staff in the K-12 with access to a web browser.

This new RFID application is expected to work on any 802.11 standards-based wireless local area network (LAN) infrastructures. The Wi-Fi-based RFID tags, which can be placed on ID badges, bracelets, shirt pockets or book bags, send wireless signals to serve specific purposes such as asset tracking, daily attendance tracking and disaster response.

In 2005, Brittan Elementary School in the California district enforced their students to wear RFID badges to track their movement. However, the enforcement outraged parents and they protested it by saying that it will only rob their children’s privacy.

Source: ComputerWire daily updates