| There are popular beliefs that RFID is best suited to | | | | In short, these application types need to mature to a |
| supply-chain management or consumer packaged | | | | point of validation (both technological and relating to |
| goods industries, the range of current RFID applications | | | | business processes) before being rolled out into |
| goes far beyond these areas. In fact, a variety of | | | | production. |
| established RFID applications have already been | | | | Whereas a whole application type can be emerging, |
| deployed successfully in real-world environments. An | | | | some members of a particular prevalent application |
| application consists of several different application | | | | type can be emerging, too. When RFID begins to be |
| members that share the same characteristics of the | | | | used in various types of applications, a whole new |
| usages. | | | | suite of yet undiscovered applications might unfold. An |
| The full potential offered by RFID does not stop at the | | | | application at a prototype stage today might very well |
| prevalent application types. RFID is an emerging | | | | be rolled out as a business application in the near |
| technology, and as such, tremendous potential lies | | | | future. Therefore, the application types and members |
| ahead to apply it to areas that can utilize the benefits | | | | belonging to prevalent and emerging types will vary |
| of the technology. Currently, some of these areas are | | | | over time based on technological advances and the |
| in the prototyping or planning stage, some have just | | | | willingness of the business community to apply the |
| started to be explored, and others are not yet getting | | | | technology to solve new problems. |
| sufficient attention from the industry or from vendors. | | | | |