Kyodo News Agency reports that Japan will set up an experimental high-tech wireless zone on one of its islands next year. The zone will use IC tags, or tiny computer chips, to track products and monitor the health of the elderly, among other applications.
The wireless zone will be spearheaded by the Japanese government with the cooperation of wireless operators, electronics manufacturers, automakers and other firms. Although the location of the test zone hasn't been confirmed, the report says that it will likely be on the northern island of Hokkaido or the southern island chain of Okinawa, where there is less radio wave interference. See this report.