Until now, Sneak has sought long and hard to find a practical application of RFID technology that could really propel this technology into the mainstream. Luggage bags in airports, clothes and other items in department stores, and pallets in factories have all been touted as locations where these smart chips could be installed to monitor usage, keep inventory managed efficiently and the supply chain well-oiled.

But until now it just hasn’t happened for RFID. Maybe no-one likes the acronym? Anyway, Sneak has discovered what could be the answer – RFID transponder vendor Sokymat Automotive has just announced the introduction of a new miniature laundry tag, the S-Tag10. This tag could be placed in one’s pants, for example, “to ensure the pre-sorting of soiled garments ... in industrial laundries”.

The Sokymat sales pitch continues: “Due to its particularly small size, the S-Tag10 is ideal for personal garments in scenarios where individual items need to be tracked at all times to ensure peace of mind to the owner.” Sneak doesn’t know about you, but he’d rather not have everyone knowing exactly where he is at all times thanks to a pair of e-pants.