RFID in Society - Preparing for the Internet of things Researching opportunities and obstacles in RFID innovation

This project explores the uses of RFID/IoT in society and develops an overall methodological framework, based on actual case studies, that can aide our understanding of this technological domain. RFID is a key enabler for the coming Internet of Things (IoT), which is rapidly expanding, and has vast economic opportunities and societal gains, as well as inherent obstacles and pitfalls. The Norwegian population is considered technologically mature, and there is great potential to be extracted, also regarding RFID/IoT at the consumer level. IoT will be potentially pervasive and disruptive to society. It is therefore critical to explore and get an understanding of the mechanisms of technology use and its potential consequences. Such knowledge is invaluable for innovators, organized interests and policy-makers alike. RFID (and similar technology) is relatively simple and "tangible" as mere technology, but complex in its structure, range of uses, and implications. It is also "invisible" to its users, and functions in an automated manner "in the background", often without direct involvement from users. The grander vision of IoT is elusive and "intangible", but relies on the material technologies that enable its functioning. Hence, it is important to see both the tangible RFID and the vision of IoT together when research/innovation in this field is performed. For this purpose, the project will conduct both practical case studies, as well as develop a methodological framework to aide the understanding of the interplay of people, products and social environments where RFID/IoT is involved. There is a clear lack of such research both nationally and internationally. The project involves 4 partners that represent high competence in their respective areas. SIFO on consumer-related issues within the area of digital technology; TIK at the University of Oslo on the development of, and interaction between, science and technology, innovation and entrepreneurship; IMK, also at the University of Oslo on media use and communication technology; and SNF at NHH on studies of consumer/technology adoption. The project will be cross-disciplinary, with practical, methodological and co-authoring cooperation between the partners. The research design will stimulate and encourage a wide fan of knowledge input to the project as a whole.

This project shall explore the uses of RFID in society and develop a methodology that can aide our understanding of and help give control over this technology. RFID is central to Internet of Things (IoT), is rapidly expanding, and has vast economic opport unities and societal gain, as well as inherent obstacles and pitfalls. The Norwegian population is considered technologically mature and savvy, and there is great potential to be extracted, also regarding RFID/IoT, from understanding the mechanisms of tec hnology use and the place of technology in society and its potential consequences. Such knowledge is invaluable for innovators, organised interests and policy-makers alike. RFID is relatively simple as mere technology but complex in its structure, range o f uses, and implications. In addition, it is mostly an invisible technology, which has important consequences for how research on RFID-use must be designed and conducted. This project seeks therefore to develop an analytical framework and a methodology wh ich shall make sense of the interplay of people, products and social environments that involve RFID-use. Such research does not exist in Norway and appears internationally only in separate and fragmented form. The project involves 4 partners that all repr esent utmost competence in their respective areas. SIFO on consumer-related issues within the area of digital media, TIK at the University of Oslo on the development of and interaction between science and technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, IMK, also at the University of Oslo on media use; and SNF on studies on consumer adoption. The project will also, through TIK and IMK, link itself to relevant research institutions abroad. It shall be a cross-disciplinary project with real, academic cooperatio n between the partners. This will be ensured through a project design which simultaneously provides a division of labour and also indicate in what ways and on which areas cooperation shall take place.