Hugs and Kisses, a radio frequency identification (RFID) technology used to track and secure newborn babies, has been rolled out across South Africa at various public and private hospitals, reports barcode specialist Harmonic Group.

RFID uses radio-frequency waves to transfer data between a reader and a movable item to identify, categorise or track an item, says Harmonic Group MD Barry Baetu, noting that talks regarding the installation of the technology at private hospitals started last year.

When checking into the hospital, a mother is tagged with a wrist bracelet containing all her information. This includes any special requirements, such as the baby’s feeding schedule or special-care requirements.

In the delivery room, the newborn is fitted with a tamperproof wrist tag after receiving a paediatric examination. The baby’s tag is then auto- matically linked with the mother’s tag, explains Baetu.

Further, Harmonic Group is using the RFID technology for asset protection through tagging assets, from laptops to livestock.

Baetu states that a company registered a decrease in laptop thefts – from six laptops being stolen a month to four laptops stolen in two years.

Another initiative from Harmonic Group, he says, is the use of RFID technology with mesh communication technology. The latter allows for the control unit to handle up to 700 tags and to cover an area of 1 km2, with communication between the control unit and tags within 200 m2 in open areas, all under the power of solar energy.

The combination of these two technologies has resulted in Pig-Shed Connect and Pig Connect, which are used for monitoring and tracking pigs.

Pig-Shed Connect can be used to monitor environmental conditions through sensors that detect ambient temperatures, relative humidity and contact. These sensors are positioned around the shed and send data directly and wirelessly to ventilation system controls, which then operate according to preset definitions. Drastic changes result in alerts being sent to a manager’s mobile phone.

Pig Connect allows the real-time monitoring of individual pigs and a drove of pigs. The health condition of the pigs is monitored through an ear tag that functions as a body-temperature sensor. The possibility of a heart rate monitor is also being investigated, says Baetu.

He adds that he will travel to Israel this year to investigate new technology, which includes Product DNA. “This is an exciting new technology, whereby planted fibre is used to produce DNA, specifically for a particular product or range. “This technology can be used to identify an imitation product. The possibilities are endless,” Baetu says.