Long range RFID testing has started

[danlb_2000]

I thought I had heard Disney will not be tracking indivudual people, but rather groups or just random data of whete groups stay...or something kind of like that.

Since the device that is being tracked is on an individual, they would have to track at that level. The question is will they just use the aggregate data, or will they use data about an individual to do targeted marketing and such.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I have increased my tinfoil thickness.

 

[DTale]

I read this thread and just laugh at how ignorant some people can be. You need to catch up with the times my friends. I'll let you know when I go in few months how Disney "infiltrated" my vacation...

 

[brea]

or... Disney could just implement this technology without telling you like they have countless other forms of it.

Personally I like the idea and the positive uses far outweigh the negative uses of the technology. Disney has rules on how they are allowed to use the data they collect. Will some people not like it? Sure... Will the masses not ever read about and even know what's happening? Sure which will also lead them to enjoy their manufactured experience that much more.

Hint - Disney has been "manufacturing" these experiences since the gates opened. You just don't see the queues the CM's give each other or see that the "cool" thing you just saw was planned for weeks and worked out with the recipient.

You call it invasion of privacy. I call it advancement and inevitable.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

or... Disney could just implement this technology without telling you like they have countless other forms of it.

Personally I like the idea and the positive uses far outweigh the negative uses of the technology. Disney has rules on how they are allowed to use the data they collect. Will some people not like it? Sure... Will the masses not ever read about and even know what's happening? Sure which will also lead them to enjoy their manufactured experience that much more.

Hint - Disney has been "manufacturing" these experiences since the gates opened. You just don't see the queues the CM's give each other or see that the "cool" thing you just saw was planned for weeks and worked out with the recipient.

You call it invasion of privacy. I call it advancement and inevitable.

So in short, appreciate Disneys magnanimous actions, hand over your cash and shut the hell up and enjoy your fully customised vacation experience.

Just dont expect new rides.

 

[dadddio]

No, Let me guess....you either havnt completely read my comments or you just don't comprehend them....which is it?

I'll take "don't comprehend them" for a thousand, Alex.

In what way are you being manipulated by the company's being able to know where you are?

 

[EpcoTim]

Hint - Disney has been "manufacturing" these experiences since the gates opened. You just don't see the queues the CM's give each other or see that the "cool" thing you just saw was planned for weeks and worked out with the recipient.

So you're saying that kid who threw up all over his loudmouth mother in line for Thunder Mountain was really just a plant sent by Disney for my amusement? That's amazing. I like this Walt guys sense of humor.

 

[sporadic]

Just to clarify, it's not "Long range RFID". RFID is locally energized when tapped and communicates at 13.56MHz. The Magic Bands use nRF24LE1 chips for the long range 2.4GHz stuff and the payload is quite different from what's available via RFID.

 

[LAKid53]

I would love to have this technology applied to the resort bus system. e.g. If they could read how many bands in the bus loop were from guests staying at each resort and send extra busses out to those that needed it.

Ah, but all the buses have communications equipment and the bus drivers can/do let Transportation know - I've heard them.

 

[LAKid53]

Thankfully I can still stream Squawk Box with DirecTV. I wonder what the deal was though they got whomever it was to wire Universal for Wifi if it weren't Comcast themselves. Unless I'm misunderstanding @marni1971

Since Comcast now owns Universal and is probably the biggest provider of home broadband, I would guess it was Comcast. Since ATT announced their plan to purchase DirectTV and Comcast partners with Verizon, let the war begin for wifi.

P.S. - there are cell phone towers on Disney property - they are disguised as trees, funny looking trees...

 

[Nubs70]

I would love to have this technology applied to the resort bus system. e.g. If they could read how many bands in the bus loop were from guests staying at each resort and send extra busses out to those that needed it.

Or they could place readers at each stop. They could send busses to point of need rather than the loop routine.

 

[danlb_2000]

Just to clarify, it's not "Long range RFID". RFID is locally energized when tapped and communicates at 13.56MHz. The Magic Bands use nRF24LE1 chips for the long range 2.4GHz stuff and the payload is quite different from what's available via RFID.

Do we know for a fact that the long range transmits different data then then the short range? Disney has said that the bands only contain a id number and no personal information.

 

[fillerup]

Wow. So, security jumps to respond to a guest who appears to be crying, and yet adamthewoo et al successfully went into the tunnels and other restricted areas of the parks (raising potential security concerns according to some news media that referenced his youtube videos) for quite some time before getting caught? Is that really where Disney's surveillance priorities lie?

I hope that I'm not accosted by security the next time I shed tears of joy over being able to enter the Space Mountain FastPass queue because I was able to book my ride appointment via my smartphone app a few days in advance.

An awful lot of people overestimate Disney security in a big way. Yes, there are lots of cameras on property and I would guess 90% or more of them are doing the same thing a camera at 7-11 is doing - they're recording so that footage can be examined if needed after an incident. It would be a logistical and financial impossibility to monitor the property in real time.

And ok, facial recognition software - I'm open to the idea. But what database of faces is Disney accessing to compare my mug to? Maybe there's an answer I can't think of - just curious.

 

[MissM]

And ok, facial recognition software - I'm open to the idea. But what database of faces is Disney accessing to compare my mug to? Maybe there's an answer I can't think of - just curious.

PURE SPECULATION: is it possible they capture facial shots when you use your ticket and thereby associate a [likely] name to a face? Because I stopped to think about it too and wasn't sure. (I know things like facebook will run facial recognition on photos based on "tagging" yourself in a photo but not sure what Disney would compare against for identification.)

 

[landauh]

An awful lot of people overestimate Disney security in a big way. Yes, there are lots of cameras on property and I would guess 90% or more of them are doing the same thing a camera at 7-11 is doing - they're recording so that footage can be examined if needed after an incident. It would be a logistical and financial impossibility to monitor the property in real time.

And ok, facial recognition software - I'm open to the idea. But what database of faces is Disney accessing to compare my mug to? Maybe there's an answer I can't think of - just curious.

If you really believe that the cameras are not being monitored in real time just stay in a room at the AKL and place a towel over the railing of your balcony and see how long it takes for the knock on you door by Security.

 

[eblaz37]

No, Let me guess....you either havnt completely read my comments or you just don't comprehend them....which is it?

No-- I've read them and comprehended them. Even screencapped them and posted them on social media for other people to laugh about them with me. I find you extremely entertaining. Keep up the posts, pizza boy!

 

[John]

I'll take "don't comprehend them" for a thousand, Alex.

In what way are you being manipulated by the company's being able to know where you are?

If I thought that you really wanted to have an intelligent conversation about it I would answer that question. Its seems that some of us choose to go another route. Which is fine. I will exit the conversation. But just for clarification....its the way my experience is being manipulated.

 

[alissafalco]

Wow. So, security jumps to respond to a guest who appears to be crying, and yet adamthewoo et al successfully went into the tunnels and other restricted areas of the parks (raising potential security concerns according to some news media that referenced his youtube videos) for quite some time before getting caught? Is that really where Disney's surveillance priorities lie?

I hope that I'm not accosted by security the next time I shed tears of joy over being able to enter the Space Mountain FastPass queue because I was able to book my ride appointment via my smartphone app a few days in advance.

I think there is more to this story than the OP is telling.

 

[alissafalco]

No-- I've read them and comprehended them. Even screencapped them and posted them on social media for other people to laugh about them with me. I find you extremely entertaining. Keep up the posts, pizza boy!

grow up

 

[sporadic]

Do we know for a fact that the long range transmits different data then then the short range? Disney has said that the bands only contain a id number and no personal information.

Yes, and there is no personal information available without the ability to correlate the ID's against Disney's database. The actual RFID chip in the band is a NXP MIFARE DESFire EV1 - http://www.nxp.com/products/identif...ard_ics/mifare_smart_card_ics/mifare_desfire/. It contains two applications, the first being the Timelox AB stuff which is your room key. The second application is for your "Disney UID" if you will, to identify you for park entry, etc...

The 2.4GHz long range stuff works off a beacon type system. The xBR long range readers transmit a beacon on 2.482GHz every second to a common broadcast address. This packet will wake up the long range radio and trigger a response if asked / authenticated. Contents of beacon packet and weather it contains authentication or control messages is not fully known at this time as I haven't had a chance to capture a full handshake yet. Responses however should just contain your UID.

Dunno if that clears it up or just muddies it more, but the key thing is that the RFID and 2.4GHz long range stuff is two separate yet interconnected systems in the band. The RFID portion utilizing the NXP MIFARE DESFire EV1 and the 2.4GHz portion utilizing a Nordic nRF24LE1 which contains its own 8051 based CPU core.


EDIT: Also to note, all the xBR devices are classified as indoor industrial infrastructure equipment in the FCC cover letters. Haven't found any outdoor stuff yet which I thought was interesting. Maybe they're just using it indoors for rides and whatnot after all.