Long checkout lines at the grocery store are one of the biggest complaints about the shopping experience. Soon, these lines could disappear when the ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code is replaced by smart labels, also called radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags are intelligent bar codes that can talk to a networked […]
If you go look in your refrigerator or pantry right now, you will find that just about every package you see has a UPC bar code printed on it. In fact, nearly every item that you purchase from a grocery store, department store and mass merchandiser has a UPC bar code on it somewhere. Have
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The MP3 player is the most recent in an evolution of music formats that have helped consumers enjoy their tunes. Records, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes and CDs — none of these earlier music formats provide the convenience and control that MP3 players deliver. With an MP3 player in hand or pocket, a consumer can create
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The Art and Science of Recorded Sound To understand what Beats Audio does — or what its maker claims it does — you first have to know a little bit about the science of recording and reproducing sound. Whether you’re a fan of Gotye or Beyoncé, the music you enjoy goes through a complex, at
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Satellite Radio Systems Satellite radio is an idea over a decade in the making. In 1992, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated a spectrum in the “S” band (2.3 GHz) for nationwide broadcasting of satellite-based Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS). Only four companies applied for a license to broadcast over that band. The FCC
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The first option in loss prevention involves the use of deterrents such as security guards, observation mirrors (that allow store clerks to see throughout the store) and closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems. Most large stores use some combination of these techniques, which were among the earliest tools used to combat shoplifting. Smaller businesses, unable to
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2-D Trilateration Imagine you are somewhere in the United States and you are TOTALLY lost — for whatever reason, you have absolutely no clue where you are. You find a friendly local and ask, “Where am I?” He says, “You are 625 miles from Boise, Idaho.” This is a nice, hard fact, but it is
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The Fusion Draw While you might think of glass in its manufactured form, the truth is it’s a material we find in nature. Certain rocks and minerals become glass after coming into contact with high temperatures. This occurs naturally along lava flows and places where lightning has hit the ground. Humans have been creating glass
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Google Voice Functions and Features Google Voice’s defining feature is the ability to use one phone number in place of all your existing ones. However, your Google Voice number doesn’t replace your other phone numbers. Think of it as an operator who routes your calls to all your phones for you. It works like this:
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Comparing High-definition Digital Video Cameras Like standard digital video cameras, high-definition digital video cameras (or camcorders) come in many sizes, price ranges and capabilities. One of the bigger differences you’ll want to pay attention to is the camera’s storage method. HD digital video cameras have four main storage formats: MiniDV tape is similar to other
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