Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, billed itself as the new barcode starting in 2003. It promised to replace every barcode with a chip which could tally inventory instantaneously, check out a basket of groceries in one second, and charge it to their Visa without the consumer even opening their wallet. While the vision was fantastic, the technology could have never lived up to the pitch.
Walmart and the DOD jumped on the wagon - largely due to a CIO at Walmart who had just started her career in IT. She has moved on and left IT, Walmart is tired of twisting their vendors arms, and the DOD is revisiting the merits of barcodes.
However, while all that was going on, billions was being funneled into an RFID industry worth $100M. Barcode conferences became RFID conferences.
So, I say suicide because RFID promised what the physics of radio frequency said couldn't be done. Everyone knew it would be the death of the business, but the venture capitalist loved the story, and the client wanted to believe. In the latest GMA survey of CIOs, it is clear they don't believe anymore.
The spotlight returned in barcodes late last year.