Yes, that's the typical warehouse application for RFID. But it's not the only application possible.. and that's kind of the discussion. One does not mandate the other..
While I think it would be cool... I think a company like Disney will be too scare of the potential media wave about 'tracking people', etc.. and ultimately stick to methods where guests have to initiate an action to be 'seen' by the system. Just look at how much bad press they got over the bioscanners.. imagine what it would be like when people say 'Disney is tracking your every move!!' - even tho they can already in many different ways. The hysteria and bad press alone is probably enough to scare Disney into smaller applications.
If Disney were bold... I'd agree. But they are less and less. I'm less optimistic they will use it to this grandeur and we'll see 'wave here' markers all over the place :/
No, for the doors you must still pass the card over the lock. It needs to be almost virtually in contact to register.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General...orld_cards_coming_to_Disney_World_resorts.htm
So they're finally starting work on the RFID, I see.
The new door locks will be rolled out into all of the resorts in the relatively near future. Other than data mining (which yes, Disney and every other company nowadays is doing) the new locks also have some operational attributes that are beneficial for the resort cast members. So they're not just for data mining. =P
They already have this in some stores and you can do it with your credit card. My CVS drugstore has this at the register and all I did was tap my credit card to the machine (instead of normally swiping it through) and paid my bill. It's very cool, and that is way modern technology is going.
How? Its no different than swiping it through. Either a tap or a swipe i don't see the differece in safety. If they can't lift your info from a swipe then they can't lift it from a tap either. I would'nt worry
What's the frequency range on these?
If I'm in the room and have the card in my pocket...can someone just tap the door and get into my room?
RE: Criminals Stealing My Card ID #: Apparently I'm not as concerned about this as some people are. I put a Visa CC on my room. If there end up being fraudulent charges on my bill at the end of the week - BAM, Visa takes care of it. And the most expensive thing that is ever in my room is a tablet/netbook....and they fit in all the safes I've experienced. I'm more worried about someone dodging in and out real quick while housekeeping props open 2 doors at a time, than I am about someone loitering in a Disney resort hallway with a complete Mr. Gadget kit so he can see which room I'm in, scan my card, produce a fake card, and go into my room only to find my giant pile of socks in the corner. Besides, how long is one criminal going to creepily hang out in a hotel hallway before SOMEONE (Manager, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Guests, etc) say something? He's going to be able to try it on one room, tops, per resort or building.
RE: Proximity: With doors, the proximity sensor is set to 0 (i.e. touch). Same for the "Orbs on a Stick" that they used to test FP+. They will likely set their "Painless Payment" systems the same way, just like many credit card terminals already do that accept Credit Cards with the )))) symbol on them. They don't want to be able to scan it from your pocket to make a purchase. They need to see it in your hand, and to be within an inch or so of the device.
They will indeed use long-range proximity readers at queues, ride exits, gift shop exits, smoking areas, bus stops and other key areas throughout property. This type of application will tell them how many people are waiting for buses or using smoking areas. They'll count guests using park restrooms, and dispatch custodial accordingly based on usage (and they'll be able to target and project labor more accurately, putting more custodians in a certain area at higher usage times). They'll scan you as you come off a ride, and at the exit of it's gift show, so if you're one who gets off Pirates and sprints through the gift shop....you just get counted. If you linger, you'll get e-mails with marketing literature for pirate merchandise.
They'll know how many times you ride a certain ride. They'll know ACTUAL wait times without using the red cards, because they'll scan you at the queue entrance and at load....and they'll be doing it continuously for every guest with a readable ID.
RE: Benefits: There's no doubt that this technology will benefit Disney more than it will the guest. But, at the same time, some of those Disney benefits could trickle down as indirect guest benefits. As with the example above about the restrooms, there's no doubt in my mind that they'll count visits to the bathroom (not individually, but as an aggregate), and will thus be able to schedule custodial labor and stock supplies in a more efficient manner. While Disney will save money on labor, the guests will also benefit in more appropriately maintained restrooms.
And, if they utilize it correctly at bus stops, they'll be able to actually dispatch buses to the depots that have guest waiting at them (instead of sending 3 buses to an empty stop, which we ALL know they are well known for doing now).
But as others have said, they will use this technology as a method of collecting data en mass. A large portion of the $Billion will undoubtedly go toward storage servers and data processing computers...plus the software they're probably writing themselves, or in partnership with someone like SAP. They're going to track the movement and habits of every guest, analyze it based on every demographic you can imagine, and target market based on purchases, time spent in the parks, time spent at your resort, whether you're using Disney transportation or not, and what types of stuff you buy.
This is data mining to the max, with the added perk of reducing labor and adjusting to crowds better. The cherry on top is that they can add some guest conveniences along the way, and offer things like interactive queues and FP+.
If you look at it the way I do, it's win-win....but there's a much bigger WIN on Disney's side of the fence.
I am sorry, after seeing what has been going on around here lately I am even weary with all the negative talk. Some would suggest I am a card carrying D&G member.....but according to your analogy what I can look forward to for the sum of 1 BILLION dollars is lots more of Disney spam and never worring about the toilet paper running out? oh and buses actually running effciently....
Isnt it really about TDO saving money? ie the bottom line? Not sure how much my experience will benifit. BTW after fourteen visits I finally recieved one of those prized pin code offers in the mail.
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