Real-time Intelligence Visualization Is Becoming the New RTLS, Says ABI Research

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Recent decades have seen the widespread adoption of short-range
wireless communications, including wireless LANs (Wi-Fi),
ultra-wideband (UWB), and RFID. All of these can be used as part of
real-time location systems (RTLS). But according to a new Research
Brief from ABI Research, a preoccupation with the technologies alone
is misplaced: a more useful concept is "real-time intelligence
visualization" (RTIV), in which the technology becomes the means to an
end, not the end itself.

What is RTIV? According to research director Michael Liard, "RTIV
is not about the individual technologies. It is about the process and
logic that end-users must embrace. That concept focuses on end-users
seeing data (or the 'intelligence') and their tagged assets in new
ways, with 'real-time eyes.'"

RTIV involves the capture of real-time data (regardless of the
technology), and the processing and synchronization of that data with
back-end systems through defined rules. This leads to the creation of
actionable business intelligence that is accessible to the relevant
systems and people. It involves the establishment of alerts, alarms,
actions, decisions, and where required, audit trails and
documentation. The result? Data that can provide a "smart
enterprise-wide view" of tagged objects, assets, and personnel through
wireless identification and location.

These competitive, yet complementary wireless technologies,
approaches, and solutions have historically been treated as
independent silos, but they are now converging. In a growing number of
end-user environments a combination of technologies is being used. For
example, passive and active RFID may be used jointly for fixed and
mobile asset tagging; Wi-Fi- and UWB-based RTLS solutions may be
leveraged for hospital asset tracking; or a combination of GPS and
active RFID may be employed for cargo tracking and security.

Whatever the technologies involved, Liard concludes, "The end (as
well as the beginning) of real-time intelligence visualization must be
the value propositions and business problems challenging end-users."

"RFID Meets Wi-Fi and UWB in the RTLS Space"
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/research_brief/RFID_Research_
Briefs/109) focuses on the technologies, applications, and development
of the wireless identification and location systems commonly known as
real-time locations systems (RTLS), and explores RTIV's potential to
multiply the usefulness of the data they collect.

It forms part of two ABI Research Services: RFID & Contactless
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/RFID_Research_Service)
and Short-Range Wireless
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Short_Range_Wireless_
Research_Service).

ABI Research is a leading market research firm focused on the
impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business
markets. Utilizing a unique blend of market intelligence, primary
research, and expert assessment from its worldwide team of industry
analysts, ABI Research assists hundreds of clients each year with
their strategic growth initiatives. For information, visit
www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

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ABI Research
Nicole Fabris, +1-516-624-2542
pr@abiresearch.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008