GPS is very different from RFID. GPS tracking would be a small battery powered device about the size of a cell phone. it does two things. 1) it is a GPS receiver, it receives signals from satelites in a geosycronis orbit around the earth to tell you exactly where you are. 2) it then broadcasts this location on something similar to a cell phone band once this response is activated (your car gets stolen you tell the company then they 'activate' your GPS tracker on your car if it is too far out of range or cannot get reception then youre out of luck) All an RFID does is act like a barcode, but instead of a visual scan with an infrared device all it ineeds is a proximity (within about 5/10feet) scan, which as described above momenterlly powers a radio broadcast)
yes, there are GPS tracking devices on the market right now. they are a couple thousand dollars to buy then usually require a service fee to 'activate' every time you want to know where it is, or a monthly fee if you want to strap one to your 16 y.o.'s car to know where they are 24/7 (yes a friend of mine had one of these on her car back in high school. . . talk about strict parents)
the only way you can 'locate' with RFID is to have at least three recievers in a building, then use them to triangulate the location of the signal, but these usually require a battery opperated broadcasting device rather than the scanable powerless devices that are being put on products instead of bar codes. so theoretically you could stick an RFID tag on your bag, then drive around town trying to triangulate the location of your lost property. it would be a lot easier to buy a new laptop and backpack.
i think ill stop there. sorry to be so informative, im currently working on a report for an RFID product so the capabilities of it are on my mind
