It's time to pack your bags and head to Chicago. This year's Frontline Solutions Conference and Expo, scheduled for September 13–15, will have the Navy Pier overflowing with automatic identification and mobility technologies for streamlining supply chains. More than 6,000 attendees will find a full range of data capture and management solutions from over 120 vendors, according to Advanstar Technology Group, the show's sponsor.

The hardware, software and services showcased during the three-day event range from bar code scanners and RFID tags to wireless networks and related software. For a preview of what will be on display, see the story that starts on page 37. Attendees will also have plenty of educational opportunities for learning how to best apply the technologies seen on the show floor.

To kick off the first day, Kevin Ashton, co-founder of MIT's Auto-ID Center and vice president of marketing and business development for ThingMagic, is giving a keynote presentation about the new age of computing. In what he calls "The Sensor Age," computers are able to sense and capture information without any human intervention.

Gearing up Tuesday's events is an RFID keynote presented by Dr. Sanjay Sarma, chief technology officer of OATSystems and co-founder of MIT's Auto-ID Center. Issues to be explored include achieving return on investment, increasing inventory turns and reducing shrinkage.

Other RFID programs not to be missed are "Billions and Billions: What is the Status of Chip Production," Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. and "RFID and the Bumps in the Road," Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

The show's conference program, organized by Advanstar and the trade association AIM Global, offers three forums on RFID, bar codes and specific vertical markets. In addition, four case studies will highlight order fulfillment and auto-ID in the automotive, food and airport industries. Events are organized into seven areas: identification, mobility, security, compliance, interoperability, value and integrated supply chains.

For more information about the event, visit www.frontlineexpo.com.