RFID tops CIOs' list

With IT budgets set to remain flat, CIOs are thinking hard about what to spend their cash on - and RFID, SOA and VOIP are set to top the list, says ZDNet.

Service-oriented architecture tops the list of CIOs' 'must have' technologies, according to an IDC survey, and radio frequency identification took second place, with usage of the tags predicted to rise by 122%.

The track and trace chips were used in 8% of companies last year, while 18% of them expect to use it in 2009.

Bar code technology seen in grocery stores is now being used by medical facilities across Las Vegas. North Vista Hospital was among the first to implement the system - to reduce the risk of medication mistakes.

Nurse Estrelita Caliboso says there are clear advantages to the bar code scanning system. "It's safe for the patients, and it's safe for our licence because we're very sure we give the right medication to the right patient."

The scanner matches coded information on the patient's wristband with information on the medication package.

Chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy said the state government of Siasat would use all the available technology to weed out bogus beneficiaries in various welfare and development activities, says The Siasat Daily.

Smart cards would be introduced to weed out bogus claims for welfare pensions, and exclusive software would be developed to weed out bogus ration cards.

Furthermore, a biometric system would be in place at all the welfare hostels to check bogus attendance.