Restaurant Handwash Reminder

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Purpose: Remind restaurant employees to wash their hands
every 30 minutes for 20 second intervals, or after they use the restroom.

Components Necessary: 
CPU for tracking time, sounding alarms for individual employees, running
database that ties this all together (I’m guessing); 3 readers with antennas
(short range), passive RFID wristbands stored in cabinet; Speaker for playing
MP3 files from CPU.

Scenario: 
Employees at restaurants don’t wash their hands as much as they
should.  In order to motivate them
to wash their hands they would be asked to wear a wristband with and RFID tag
in it.  The wristbands would be
stored in a cabinet with and RFID antenna in it that would be attached to an
RFID reader.  When the wristband is
in the cabinet no alarm will sound. 
When the employee removes the wristband from the cabinet a clock on the
CPU will start.  If the employee
does not wash their hands within 5 minutes of removing the wristband from the
cabinet their personal alarm will sound, reminding them to wash their
hands.  Again if the employee
washes their hands within five minutes the antenna in the sink will read the
RFID tag and reset the clock for that particular employee.  Each employee will have their own RFID
wristband and customized alarm.  There
will also be a RFID reader by the bathroom door with an antenna surrounding the
door.  When an employee walks out
of the bathroom they will have approximately 1 minute to wash their hands
before their alarm sounds.

This concept was thought up by a group of 5^th-8^th
grade boys.  I would like to help
these boys use this for a project presentation in December.  Is there anyone on this forum that can
help us with which RFID system components (readers, antennae, passive tags,
system software) would work together to make this a reality?  (I ordered Amal’s book through Amazon,
but it hasn’t arrived yet L
)  Yes our budget is next to nil,
but I would be willing to spend some personal funds if the costs aren’t too
high.  Please help some young
scientist/engineer types learn something and be motivated for the future.  Who knows, they might also have some
fun!

Thanks,
NeoHawk

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NeoHawk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 October 2011 Location: Hawaii Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote NeoHawk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Restaurant Handwash Reminder Posted: 14 October 2011 at 12:43am
	Purpose: Remind restaurant employees to wash their hands every 30 minutes for 20 second intervals, or after they use the restroom. Components Necessary: CPU for tracking time, sounding alarms for individual employees, running database that ties this all together (I’m guessing); 3 readers with antennas (short range), passive RFID wristbands stored in cabinet; Speaker for playing MP3 files from CPU. Scenario: Employees at restaurants don’t wash their hands as much as they should. In order to motivate them to wash their hands they would be asked to wear a wristband with and RFID tag in it. The wristbands would be stored in a cabinet with and RFID antenna in it that would be attached to an RFID reader. When the wristband is in the cabinet no alarm will sound. When the employee removes the wristband from the cabinet a clock on the CPU will start. If the employee does not wash their hands within 5 minutes of removing the wristband from the cabinet their personal alarm will sound, reminding them to wash their hands. Again if the employee washes their hands within five minutes the antenna in the sink will read the RFID tag and reset the clock for that particular employee. Each employee will have their own RFID wristband and customized alarm. There will also be a RFID reader by the bathroom door with an antenna surrounding the door. When an employee walks out of the bathroom they will have approximately 1 minute to wash their hands before their alarm sounds. This concept was thought up by a group of 5^th-8^th grade boys. I would like to help these boys use this for a project presentation in December. Is there anyone on this forum that can help us with which RFID system components (readers, antennae, passive tags, system software) would work together to make this a reality? (I ordered Amal’s book through Amazon, but it hasn’t arrived yet L ) Yes our budget is next to nil, but I would be willing to spend some personal funds if the costs aren’t too high. Please help some young scientist/engineer types learn something and be motivated for the future. Who knows, they might also have some fun! Thanks, NeoHawk

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2061	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 October 2011 at 1:19pm
	Nice graphic. One element that stands out here is the cabinet full of RFID wristbands. To accomplish this part you will need to use an HF (13.56MHz) technology, and you will also need to ensure the tags and reader support anti-collision and can read multiple tags at once. Also, you will likely have to have employees consciously scan their tags at the sink and restroom door. Low to medium cost RFID readers will not have the power and range to reliably read tags, especially if the sink area and/or doorways incorporate metal elements in their construction... plus the liquid environment of the sink will introduce further interference. Going with a simple basic reader with an integrated antenna, strategically placed near the sink and door will be far easier, cheaper, and probably more practical. However, if you have the budget (several thousand dollars), you can buy a commercial reader that supports multiple antennas, gate antennas (for doorways), and special loop antennas that could reliably work with a composite (non-metal) sink. Edited by amal - 14 October 2011 at 1:20pm
	Amal ;) www.amal.net

NeoHawk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 October 2011 Location: Hawaii Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote NeoHawk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 October 2011 at 10:08pm
	Amal - Thanks for the response. I received your book today and after reading chapter 1 I jumped straight to chapter 8 since it sounded similar to what the team in working on. I was able to get some great information on the HomeSeer and the TrackStuff software. I think that is the glue I was looking for in order to track all of the RFID bracelets and actions of the handwash sink. Do you have any recommendations on which HF readers and tags work together -- especially the anti-collision version you mention in your response? I imagine some of the tag readers listed in the book may have some newer cousins. Of course I am trying to find some inexpensive models. Also, do you have any recommendations for where to build a good loop antenna? I should probably check the site here a little more thoroughly, but I haven't found anything yet. Thanks again for all of your help and expertise! NeoHawk

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2061	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 November 2011 at 10:00pm
	Hey there NeoHawk, Sorry for the delay... got wrapped up in family business for a few days there. I posted a bunch of loop antenna construction information here; http://www.rfidtoys.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1025&title=antenna-design-notes As for the HF readers, I don't have any recommendations at this point, but you may be stuck with going for a commercial solution because most OEM products are too low power to support such large antenna loops. I'd contact a few commercial RFID suppliers to see if they have anything that might fit your project... who knows, they may give you a discount or even foot the bill if they can get some press on their site/blog about how they support school kid projects. Edited by amal - 02 November 2011 at 10:00pm
	Amal ;) www.amal.net

NeoHawk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 October 2011 Location: Hawaii Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote NeoHawk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 November 2011 at 12:07am
	Thanks Amal, I called the people at Skyetek and am looking at purchasing an M2 developer's kit (2 M2-MH readers and peripherals). I know we probably don't need all the encryption supported by the M2's, but Skyetek is all out of the M1's right now. They have said they would give me a discount since this is for educational purposes. I hope this is the right avenue to go.... Thanks for the link on building loop antennas. I will use that and some information that the guys at Skyetek sent me. I'll send you pictures as we get into the building phase. I read up on your RFID-enabled smart shelf and I'm going to use that design for the wristband cabinet. I'll just turn it on it's side and build an enclosure (all wood with pegs and plexiglass). I'm thinking I'll have to build the right loop antenna for that too, but I may be able to get a hold of some test equipment to run the proper scenarios. Thanks for all of your help! NeoHawk

NeoHawk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 October 2011 Location: Hawaii Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote NeoHawk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 November 2011 at 11:47pm
	Hello Amal, Finished building the wristband cabinet. The team assembles the two RFID antennae this weekend. If all goes well we should have our system together soon. We found wristbands that work with the Skyetek M2 readers. The only question I have is if the 14443A tag will be an anti-collision tag. I hope it is. Thanks again, NeoHawk

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2061	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 January 2012 at 12:36pm
	Hey NeoHawk, Sorry for the late reply... looks like things are coming along nicely! How's this project doing?
	Amal ;) www.amal.net