Abstract: A dynamic RFID-based input device may include an input surface and an input station. The input surface may include a plurality of RFID transmitting devices provided on at least one flexible layer, and the input station may include one or more RFID receiving devices, e.g., antennas and/or readers, provided in communication with a computing system or network. A worker may contact one or more portions of the input surface, and thereby cause one or more of the RFID transmitting devices to transmit one or more RFID signals including information, data, commands or instructions to be provided to the RFID receiving devices. Audible, visible or haptic feedback may be provided to the worker in response to the transmission of the one or more RFID signals.

Abstract: Locations and conditions of objects within a working environment may be tracked using RFID signals. A working surface within the environment may include a plurality of RFID antennas, and the objects to be tracked may include RFID tags. When one of the objects passes within an operational range of one of the antennas, an RFID signal is transmitted from the tag on the object to the antenna, and the location of the object may be determined based on the location of the antenna. Additionally, where a plurality of tags that are specially associated with a different aspect of a condition of an object are provided thereon, the condition of the object may be determined based on a number of the tags from which RFID signals are received, and the aspects of the condition with which each of such tags is associated.

Abstract: Where a safety requirement mandates contact with a grippable structural element such as a handle, a handrail, a handlebar or a steering wheel, compliance with the requirement may be determined using one or more manually activated RFID tags provided in designated locations on the grippable structural element. A level of compliance with the requirement during a given activity may be determined based at least in part on the number of RFID signals received from the manually activated RFID tags, which may be compared to a number of workers engaged in the given activity. Based on the level of compliance, relevant feedback in the form of electronic messages, signals or sounds may be identified and provided to one or more of the workers.

Abstract: A dynamic RFID-based input device may include an input surface and an input station. The input surface may include a plurality of RFID transmitting devices provided on at least one flexible layer, and the input station may include one or more RFID receiving devices, e.g., antennas and/or readers, provided in communication with a computing system or network. A worker may contact one or more portions of the input surface, and thereby cause one or more of the RFID transmitting devices to transmit one or more RFID signals including information, data, commands or instructions to be provided to the RFID receiving devices. Audible, visible or haptic feedback may be provided to the worker in response to the transmission of the one or more RFID signals.