One interesting tech detail at this year's Miami Marathon was that they've switched over from using the "traditional" ChampionChip technology for tracking the times of individual runners to a disposable RFID tab based on a chip from Alien Technology.Traditionally, in large organized running events, recipients would each attach to their shoe a circular, plastic device called a ChampionChip that would allow the race officials to record when they crossed large mats placed at the start, finish, and intermediate points on the course. The system worked well, but it had serious drawbacks. The chips cost $25 if you lost them or wanted to buy one to own, they were too bulky to mail to runners (so you had to pick them up before the race, often waiting on a long line) and you also had to remember to return them after the race or risk a $25 fine.
The new tags, pictured above, are more similar to the kind of flexible
ID cuff you might get at a nightclub or amusement park. They come
adhered on the front of your race bib, peel off, and then have a tab on
one end to allow them to stick together and form a D-shaped loop around
your laces. At the end of the race, they're disposable, which saves
waiting on line to return your chip to the officials (and the risk of
getting charged for a lost one.)
If you look at the back of the tags, you'll see the Alien RFID chip and
associated antennae. I was a little concerned that I'd broken one of
ours by creasing it across the foil strips but it seemed to work fine.
This is a really nice application of the increasing miniaturization and
cost reduction in RFID technologies... if they can track thousands of
runners using this, I'm sure it won't be long before they'll be using
it to track other things, like luggage in airports and kids in daycare
(kidding.)
Another potential application? Automated checkout at stores. Given that it's possible to query hundreds of these tags in close proximity at once, it shouldn't be hard to make a reader that scans a shopping cart and immediately gives you a total, without having to ring up each item immediately.
(Spotted this amusing tidbit on the ChampionChip "how-to" page: Do not cross the systems by walking on your hands. Your chip will not be read. Imagine running a marathon, and then not having your official time because you decided to show off by crossing the finish line walking on your hands. Serves 'em right.)
If you look at the back of the tags, you'll see the Alien RFID chip and
associated antennae. I was a little concerned that I'd broken one of
ours by creasing it across the foil strips but it seemed to work fine.
This is a really nice application of the increasing miniaturization and
cost reduction in RFID technologies... if they can track thousands of
runners using this, I'm sure it won't be long before they'll be using
it to track other things, like luggage in airports and kids in daycare
(kidding.)Another potential application? Automated checkout at stores. Given that it's possible to query hundreds of these tags in close proximity at once, it shouldn't be hard to make a reader that scans a shopping cart and immediately gives you a total, without having to ring up each item immediately.
(Spotted this amusing tidbit on the ChampionChip "how-to" page: Do not cross the systems by walking on your hands. Your chip will not be read. Imagine running a marathon, and then not having your official time because you decided to show off by crossing the finish line walking on your hands. Serves 'em right.)
Running Missoula Marathon -- I accidentally removed the plastic wrapping from the back of the RFID tag. Will this intefere with the reading of this tag during the marathon
I don't think it will be a problem. I had some heartburn the night before my race in Miami because I botched peeling the clear plastic off the back (that you remove to expose the self-adhesive.) At least in my case it didn't seem to cause any issues - if it had maybe I could have blamed my terrible time on it. If you're really concerned I would ask for a new one from the officials.