RFID on a Grand Scale for Curious Readers 

A 35,000-square foot book store in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon is using RFID to provide multimedia information for customers about all the 250,000 books and videos it sells.

At one of the world’s first “smart” bookstores, customers who want to know more about a book or author take the item to an information kiosk in the store, where the item’s RFID tag is scanned automatically. Multimedia information then pops up on the screen so customers can learn more about the book or video.

The RFID application also helps the store lower its costs and eventually its prices through more efficient inventory and security processes. And checking out is now a process that takes only seconds, since a stack of books can be identified instantly with RFID.

The company’s use of RFID has caught on with customers: It will expand the use of RFID at stores it opens in 2009.

So, if you’re interested in what the future of shopping will look like, the book store in Lisbon will give you an entirely new and hassle-free multimedia experience.