RFID Tags and Privacy

We have been studying information systems in class. Scary stuff. Don't get me wrong. I think information systems and computers can be great things. If I didn't think this I wouldn't teach computers. Its just that I really believe that the technology is very open to abuse and that the user needs to be aware of the dangers. Imagine going to the shops and someone saying to you do you mind if we just put this transmitter on you and we sill monitor on a GPS or otherwise everywhere you go. Would you let them do it? Would you be horrified at the thought? Would you think that they have a hide to even ask? Unfortunately when we go to stores now that is exactly what happens without most people's knowledge. Goods in stores are being tagged with RFID (radio frequency identification) tags which have a life expectancy of many years and will transmit their whereabouts to an information system elsewhere which can be tracked through a GPS and are the size, apparently, of a grain of sand. It began with razor blades back in 2002 and not much is said about them anymore. What are they tagging and monitoring now. Why are we not fully informed. I don't really care about them monitoring my razorblades. They can do that anytime they want but what else are the monitoring and what information is being collected.

If RFID tags don't freak you out what about the data being collected form other sources. Everytime you log onto the net and give away your personal details they are being collected in databases. Many companies are very careful what they do with that information, unfortunately there are many more companioes which don't really care about what we think. In Australia Governement departments have been responsible for onselling that information to bring in revenue. Do you ever wonder where all ther spam comes from? large databases which are onsold with your details.

George Orwell wrote about a book which many younger people would benefit from reading called "1984". How close are we getting to that society. A society where people are continually monitored and watched. Where the use of language is controlled and eupehmeisms are used to disguise what is really happening?.

It is not my intention to scare but to%2

Have you seen the show "Grumpy Old Men"?

This is the computer version. I have so much about computers that is great but there is a hell of a lot that is happening that is scary. Kids don't go out and play like they used to. They are getting fat playing their X Boxes and Nintendos. They are losing their imaginations to voilent computer games where they lose track of where vituality ends and life starts. If you have things that bother you about the new technologies then this is the place to vent your spleen (THAT IS UNTIL THEY REPLACE IT SPLEENS WITH SOME KIND OF COMPUTER CHIP).