Overview of Federal Trade Commission's RFID Workshop:

In preparation for Zapped! , Preemptive Media's upcoming RFID workshop, we attended Radio Frequency IDentification: Applications and Implications for Consumers to see how the government would run a similar show. Held in Washington, DC on June 21 st , 2004, the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) RFID workshop proposed to "facilitate discussion of core public policy issues and encourage the development of best practices that capitalize on the efficiencies generated by RFID without compromising consumers' privacy and security."

In order to fulfill this tall order in a mere eight-hours, the FTC invited major RFID industry, policy and research players to share their opinions and predictions. Presentations on average lasted about 15 minutes. The FTC facilitated "discussion" by requiring attendees to write questions on index cards. FTC employees collected the cards throughout the day and delivered them to the panel moderators, who in turn read them as time permitted. Occasionally speakers made jabs at one another (they simply couldn't resist!) and there were a few outcries and over-zealous laughing fits from the audience members (participation at its height), but for the most part the day was orderly and the proceedings courteous.