"Amusement parks want to make the entire experience fun and convenient for their patrons," said Bill Allen, eMarketing manager for TI-RFid Systems. "RFID technology makes sense because it is extremely user-friendly and helps to streamline processes for the park staff while also creating new revenue opportunities."

This summer, guests at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta have been issued Precision Dynamics' Smart Bands, enabling them to become the game pieces in one of their main attractions, a virtual fruit farming game, involving physical, interactive play. The wristbands are used to identify each player, to keep score at each game console, and to record players' point tallies on a master scoreboard.

The designer and builder of The Great Barn game, Creative Kingdoms, LLC, needed a technology that would let children move freely throughout the game but that would also quickly and easily record and transfer information as part of the attraction. RFID-enabled Smart Bands allow players to pick up the play fruit pieces, place them in baskets, toss them into buckets, stuff them into tubes, and pass them down troughs, all while recording their speed, accuracy and point tallies without the need for tokens, tickets, or the swipe of a card.

"Smart Band technology helps bring the game to life," said Irwin Thall, Precision Dynamics Corporation technical sales representative. "Using RFID, we're able to make the game truly interactive, promoting mobility, monitoring progress and facilitating the reward."

Precision Dynamics has also implemented its Smart Band technology at Six Flags Over Georgia in a "Floating Locker System" developed by Compusafe(TM) Electronic Locker Systems of Wentworth Falls, Australia. Patrons at the park no longer have to waste valuable time walking back to a locker, designate a person to watch belongings while other group members go on a ride or attempt to juggle all their gear in one hand while holding onto their children with the other hand. Guests purchase their Locker Band for the day and the new RFID-based system lets them rent a locker on demand at any of the park's lockers for just the time they need it. Each Locker Band is equipped with TI's Tag-it(TM) smart label inlay, which individually identifies each patron and allows data to be written to and read from the bands to control access to the lockers.

RFID technology can be used for wireless payment and customer loyalty programs. With Smart Bands, guests at amusement parks can pay for purchases quickly and easily, with a flick of the wrist. The wristbands work as an "electronic wallet," which is debited each time a purchase is made. Patrons do not need to step out of line for attractions or spend time going back and forth to their lockers in order to buy refreshments from mobile vendors. Amusement parks can also utilize the technology to provide coupons and rewards to frequent visitors or to offer incentives for underutilized games or attractions. In addition, guests wearing the wristbands are easily identified in the case of emergencies, such as when children become separated from their families.

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