It could be a case of RFID to the rescue.
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology are studying whether RFID technology could be used to aid first responders, such as firefighters and EMTs.
One scenario would involve placing RFID chips in buildings, using signals from them to guide first responders who would be holding a handheld device. This could prove helpful in navigating a smoky building, for example. In a sense, this approach would be the opposite of how RFID usually works, with scanners passing by RFID chips.
The researchers say that RFID is more effective inside a building than other wireless technologies such as GPS.
Researchers in coming years will try to figure out just how many RFID chips would be needed within a location and are working to build prototype readers.
For more information on the latest research from this team, visit here.
Copyright © 2006 IDG Communications, Inc.