))) Texas Instruments RFid Systems and Emerging Foundations Showcase Smarter Asset Tracking Solution at the World Workplace Expo

Emerging Foundations is Latest Addition to TI Team Tag-it™ Program

))) DALLAS, TX (October 20, 2003)

Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (TI-RFid™) Systems is showcasing a smarter way for facilities managers to more accurately keep track of high-value assets and equipment, confidential documents and hazardous materials at the International Facility Manager Association's World Workplace Expo, October 19-21 in Dallas, Texas. TI-RFid™ Systems and Emerging Foundations, Inc., a facilities software and systems integration consulting company based in Dallas, Texas, are showing an integrated facilities and asset management solution featuring TI's 13.56 MHz, ISO 15693 smart labels and the S6500 Long Range Reader/Antenna, along with Emerging Foundations' Logistical Tracking System (LTS) Web-based application software suite.

Using TI-RFid™ smart labels for asset tracking allows corporations, educational and government institutions, and healthcare facilities to more efficiently manage inventory, track items for maintenance, prevent theft and cost-effectively deploy assets throughout their organization. Applications that can benefit from RFID's automated tracking capabilities include public universities that must comply with audit requirements of their assets, corporations and military users tracking high-value electronic equipment, healthcare facilities tracking pharmaceuticals and equipment, as well as facilities handling hazardous waste that must meet OSHA regulations.

During the demonstration at the World Workplace Expo, a laptop, a confidential document, and a can containing hazardous materials will be tagged with a TI-RFid™ 13.56 MHz smart label. When moved within three feet of the S6500 Long Range Reader, the smart label will communicate stored information to the reader including its unique identification number and timestamp. Data from the tagged assets will be transferred to Emerging Foundation's Logistical Tracking System software and viewed by attendees on the Space Manager application. Space Manager is used to track facilities, personnel, projects and activities, room equipment and room surveys. The application uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for improved accuracy and visualization. Attendees will also see a simulated audit trail of the locations and times assets were moved throughout a facility, and a room equipment report showing where all tagged assets are located within the facility.

Emerging Foundations is developing an RFID Manager application to aid with business rules configuration and management of RFID readers and data, and will be demonstrating a prototype at the Expo . The company will also provide future support to its LTS suite for RFID-enabled time tracking for completion of work orders, and integration with access control systems for personnel identification.

“RFID automates the process of identifying and tracking equipment and other assets throughout a facility, replacing semi-automated technology like barcodes or manual processes,” said Kelly Stark, access control business manager, TI-RFid™ Systems. “The payoff is increased accuracy and awareness of where assets are at any given time and improved operational and financial management.”

As the newest member of TI's Team Tag-it™ program, a partnership of industry-leading companies dedicated to the development and adoption of radio frequency identification smart label solutions, Emerging Foundations Inc., will offer RFID solutions to its customers as a service within their consulting practice and LTS software product line.

“We expect RFID to be an essential tool to many facility managers. We'll support our customers with the adoption of this technology as a fundamental ingredient for an advanced asset tracking solution,” said Nick Evans , president and CEO, Emerging Foundations.

For more information on the Team Tag-it™ Program, contact Texas Instruments RFid Systems at 1-888-937-6536 (North America) or +1 214-567-4364 (International), email or visit the
TI-RFid Systems Web site at www.ti-rfid.com.