According to a forecast by IDTechEx, sensor systems used to be an esoteric subject concerned with such things as life support systems in hospitals. However, the prospect of ubiquitous sensors can potentially save lives, improve the quality of life for the disoriented elderly, and cope with natural disasters.

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In keeping with these potential benefits, the Korean government will put sensors in bridges and buildings to monitor typhoon damage and danger as it occurs. This is part of the Korean "Ubiquitous Sensor Network" program. There is also a merging of RFID and sensing, with location of items using RFID triangulation and more sophisticated techniques, and some RFID technologies where sensing is a property of the chip rather than an add-on.

For instance, surface acoustic wave (SAW) tags can inherently sense temperature and strain but are used for RFID as well. With the new printed transistor circuits, printed sensors are just another layer in the printing of the device. However, almost all sensor systems, including those combined with RFID, need power (active RFID), usually from batteries that are increasingly printed.

The subject has become so important that a new conference has been announced that is dedicated to active RFID, meaning RFID with power in the tag to manage sensors or give long range. The Active RFID Europe event in London, Sept. 20, 2006, at Guoman Tower hotel, will address several aspects of this technology.