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Windows 7: Promising Sensor and Location Platfom?

 

Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Adi Tedjasaputra.
by Adi Tedjasaputra

While Europeans are anticipating the freedom of choosing a browser in Windows 7 and many preparing for an upgrade to Windows 7, RFID manufacturers and application developers are also getting ready for Windows 7. With the new Windows Sensor and Location Platform for Windows 7, RFID vendors may expect to better integrate RFID devices and applications into Windows.

Anticipating the release of Windows 7, it's time to ask questions. Let's start with one now: Does Windows 7 provide standardized application programming interface for RFID hardware manufacturers and application developers?

About four years ago, Microsoft decided to forge a partnership with Alien Technology, a company that provides UHF RFID products and services. The partnership aims to provide compatibility between Windows and Alien's RFID products.

Little that we know how the cooperation has improved the compatibility between Windows and Alien's RFID products over the years, but last year we knew that Alien released a software for its RFID readers that can provide some information on the velocity and position of RFID tags. Alien claims that the proprietary software designed for Alien's RFID readers is useful to improve luggage sorting.

Beyond luggage sorting, Microsoft recently introduced Windows Sensor and Location Platform for Windows 7, which may provide a better way to integrate sensors and location devices, including RFID devices. RFID hardware manufacturers can write standard device drivers for their location and sensor products to communicate with different applications. RFID application developers can access the data supplied by location and sensor devices, and in some cases, control the devices as well in a standardized way.

Is everyone really happy? Until we get our hands dirty experimenting with the final build and receive feedback from RFID community, we can't say anything. At least we now know that Windows 7 has a built-in support for sensors and location devices, which is already a good news for many.

The writer is the Founder of RFID Asia - The Prominent RFID Community in Asia.

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