Masterclasses

Download presentations:
Masterclass 1 | Masterclass 2 | Masterclass 3 | Masterclass 4

Get the answers to your questions in our interactive optional masterclasses. The four expert-led masterclasses are intended for audience participation and discussion. They are effectively interactive consultancy sessions, delivered by IDTechEx, providing impartial analysis and comment.

At each masterclass you will have the chance to handle many samples, become part of the masterclass by asking your questions and take away printed copies of presentations. The masterclasses will ensure you get the most from the conference by bringing you up to date with the latest issues and market developments. Experts will be on hand to privately discuss your questions.

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Masterclass 1: RFID 
Technologies, Markets, Players & Forecasts

9:00am-12:30pm, 17 September 2007, New Hall College, Cambridge, UK

8:30am Registration; 12:30pm Lunch

This masterclass provides a complete introduction and update to RFID systems, markets and trends – everything from printed RFID to Active RFID technologies; how many tags Wal-Mart are using and ROI for their suppliers; hot niche profitable RFID sectors; the biggest RFID orders and vital ten year market, territorial and technology forecasts. The session covers:

An introduction to RFID systems and hardware choices
Chip and chipless tag technology evaluations and their applications
Active RFID, Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) and RFID combined with Wifi, Bluetooth, DSRC, UWB, etc
Examples of RFID being used, how many tags or systems have been sold and into which markets
Markets driving volume use of RFID to 2017
New applications and advice on entry to market
Comparison of RFID frequencies
The RFID value chain, major players and opportunities
Failures and successes
RFID standards, impediments and actual progress by vertical market
RFID forecasts and trends 2007-2017

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Masterclass 2: How to Manufacture RFID: From Design and Materials to Finished Product

1:30pm-5:00pm, 17 September 2007, New Hall College, Cambridge, UK

12:30pm Lunch; 1:00pm Registration

Aimed at converters, packagers, labelers, printers, label suppliers, specifiers, buyers and brand owners, this masterclass will explain the full value chain of manufacturing RFID smart labels from design to finished product. Topics include evaluation of manufacturing methods, chip attachment processes, antenna technologies, overprinting and insertion, specifying RFID labels, managing data and best practice. Delegates will be able to handle many different samples. The session covers:

Understanding the tag production value chain and entry points
Evaluation of the choices for manufacturing complete RFID labels, tickets and cards
How things are made and what they cost
Manufacturing RFID tag antennas: technologies, performance and cost
Substrates, inks and adhesives: suppliers, costs and performance
Chip attach options
Analysis of routes to high volume manufacture
Oversupply and undersupply
Applying RFID to products: required throughput, testing and finish
Major players, emerging players and unsatisfied needs i.e. opportunities
Current industry manufacturing capacity and future needs

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Masterclass 3: Active RFID, RTLS and Sensor Networks

8:45am-12:45pm, 20 September 2007, Churchill College, Cambridge, UK

8:30am Registration; 11:15am-12:45pm Ubisense Tour; 12:45pm Lunch at Churchill College

This masterclass addresses the needs of both potential users and suppliers to understand Active RFID, RTLS and sensor networks from East Asia to Europe and the USA. Where are we now in the technology and the market and what comes next? What are the emerging needs and killer applications and how will the market develop over the next ten years? It is all here in interactive form:

Technology choices, challenges, opportunities
Applications and market forecasts 2007-2017
Near Field Communication – the active RFID reader in a phone
Active RFID combined with GPS, GSM, WiFi, Bluetooth etc
Uses for RTLS, trends, suppliers to watch
Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN), including smart dust, “Smart Media” and similar concepts Types of USN, trials and impediments, suppliers to watch
Case studies and business cases
Activities of over 50 companies examined

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Masterclass 4: Printed RFID and Printed Electronics

1:30pm-5:30pm, 20 September 2007, Churchill College, Cambridge, UK

12:30pm Lunch at Churchill College; 1:00pm - 1.30pm; Registration 1.45pm - 2.45pm CAPE Tour

RFID is rapidly taking off for a wide range of applications, with 1.91 billion tags being shipped in 2007. The endgame is the item level tagging of all items but this calls for an ultra low cost tag, costing little more than a barcode does today. Printed RFID is one of the most promising technologies to achieve this. Today, we already have fully printed sub one cent RFID tags, some meeting EPC data specifications. These do not use thin film transistor circuits though and have various performance compromises. Additionally, over 50 companies are developing printed thin film transistor circuits which can mimic the silicon chip and be used as a printed RFID tag. But how do these compete with the lowering cost of silicon chips? Is more value and functionality required? What are the enabling technologies, progress of the leaders and timelines? Which are the most suitable applications for printed RFID initially? This masterclass answers these questions; assesses the technologies, how they work and latest progress.

Aimed at those who are new to the topic or who need to understand the big picture to assess the challenges and opportunities, this masterclass will arm you with the latest knowledge of the applications and technology developments involving printed electronics - from printed RFID tags to printed displays. Printed electronics enables you to replace components such as silicon chips, conventional displays, interconnects, batteries and much more with electronic and electrical devices that can be printed. Not all is printed today - we cover those too - but printing is seen as the end game to enable low cost dispersed manufacturing. Learn of the toolkit of technologies that are available and emerging at this masterclass.

Applications of printed electronics: now and near future
Lessons to be learnt from early successes and failures

The value chain
Market forecasts

The need for printed electronics

Key markets that need printed electronics: reasons why and their technology requirements
Creating new markets versus competing with conventional electronics in existing ones

Assessment of technologies, companies, strategies and progress so far, including

Thin film transistor circuits (organic, inorganic semiconductors, thin film silicon)
Displays (OLEDs, electrophoretic, electroluminescent, electrochromic and others)
Sensors, batteries, actuators and conductive inks