Labels carrying optically recorded or encoded information; Encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants of polymer, plastic, silicon, silicate, silica, and combinations thereof for use in the field of passive labeling, tracing or tracking of persons, animals, vehicles, jewels, jewelry, integrated circuits, electronics, food items, medicine and medical products, athletic shoes and apparel, musical instruments, beverages, wine, spirits, sports equipment and memorabilia, toys, cosmetics, clothing, watches, purses, packages, packaging materials, labels, or goods of any kind; Encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants of polymer, plastic, silicon, silicate, silica and combinations thereof integrated into a security fiber used to mark textiles, documents, or currency; Optically encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants for goods of any kind; Optically encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants for use in the fields of identification, access to infrastructure and resources, timekeeping, and security; Optical, electronic, and electro-optical readers of optically encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants; Optical, electronic, and electro-optical readers of optically encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants effective at short range or long range; Computer software for reading images of optically encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants; Magnetically encoded identification bracelets, key cards, pre-paid telephone calling cards, credit cards, pre-paid gift cards, fidelity cards, policyholder cards, and access cards; Optically encoded identification bracelets, key cards, pre-paid telephone calling cards, credit cards, pre-paid gift cards, fidelity cards, policyholder cards, and access cards; Optically encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants for use in forensics, quality control, and detection of intrusion, breakage, or alteration; Optically encoded micro particulates, tags and taggants for application in or on goods by spraying, painting, embedding, adsorption, absorption, mixing, coating, and adhesion; Optical, electronic, and electro-optical readers that provide automatic authentication of tagged items; Optical, electronic, and electro-optical readers that provide automatic authentication of tagged items effective at short range or long range; Computer software that provides automatic authentication of tagged items; Computer software for encoding and decoding optically encoded micro particulates, tags, and taggants; Computer-based hardware for encoding and decoding optically encoded micro particulates, tags, and taggants