FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas and the Sam M. Walton College of Business will be represented at an international RFID (radio frequency identification) conference by Bill Hardgrave, associate professor, Edwin and Karlee Bradberry Chair and executive director, Information Technology Research Institute.

Radio frequency identification is a wireless data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data. Like bar codes, they are used to identify items. Unlike bar codes, which must be brought close to the scanner for reading, RFID tags are read when they are within the proximity of a transmitted radio signal. The technology has applications to business and industry including retailers, suppliers and transportation providers.

Hardgrave, a major researcher in RFID, is one of the few academics who has been asked to speak at the business and industry conference, RFID Journal LIVE!, to be held in Chicago April 10-12. The conference is expected to draw more than 5,000 people.

Hardgrave will serve on a panel of early adopters, discussing how RFID can reduce out-of-stocks on retail shelves. Co-panelists include Simon Langford, manager, Global RFID Strategy, Information Systems Division, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; and Milan Turk, director, Global Customer eBusiness, Proctor & Gamble. The moderator will be Jonathan Collins, senior editor, RFID Journal.

Through his leadership of the Sam M. Walton College of Business Information Technology Research Institute, Hardgrave has leveraged established relationships with the institute’s business sponsors to develop his research in RFID. The research is examining RFID as used in the retail setting and beyond. He currently serves on Microsoft’s RFID board of advisors. He also serves on ACNielsen’s RFID board.

Hardgrave founded the research institute in 1999 and serves as its executive director. He is an associate professor and holder of the Edwin and Karlee Bradberry Chair in Information Systems. He came to the University of Arkansas after completing his doctorate in management information systems from Oklahoma State University in 1993. Prior to entering academia, Hardgrave worked as a programmer, systems analyst and general manager for two software development firms. He has published two books and more than 50 articles primarily on the topic of software development. His publications have appeared in journals such as Communications of the ACM, Journal of Management Information Systems, IEEE Software, Information & Management, Journal of Systems & Software, Computers & Operations Research, and Educational and Psychological Measurement. Some of his research interest involves improving the software development process and environment. He has received multiple awards for teaching and research, including the H.L. and Janelle Hembree Award for Outstanding All-Around Faculty in the Walton College.