Microchips Everywhere: a Future Vision
January 26, 2008 By TODD LEWAN, AP National Writer
(AP) -- Here's a vision of the not-so-distant future:
-Microchips with antennas will be embedded in virtually everything you buy, wear, drive and read, allowing retailers and law enforcement to track consumer items - and, by extension, consumers - wherever they go, from a distance.
Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .
Similar stories from PHYSorg:
Item-Level Tagging with RFID Technology
May 17, 2007 |
3.3 / 5 (4) |
0
Now or later? Consumer product evaluation depends on purchase timing
May 12, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Amazon hopes to simplify Web shopping -- with words
Oct 29, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Future for Internet retailers: Compete on niche products advises management insights study
Nov 18, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Holiday Web shopping looks brighter than last year
Nov 26, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Stalin would be proud.
all hail quantum
all hail quantum
The problem is that governments, both dictatorial in nature and democratic in nature, also have a vested interest tagging and observing the populations of their countries. For dictatorships there is no better way to control a populous than to watch their every move. For democracies, well, technically they should have no reason to watch, but with the War on Terror campaign of fear out in full force, they feel like they should. Because governments have an interest in seeing this kind of system in place, I can't see them doing anything to stop its creeping step-by-step installation.
The thing is, if these systems were used properly then they would be of no concern to us. Companies would make money and governments could track criminals. Great. Good for them. But any all-encompassing open tracking system like this is so susceptible to abuse from so many different places that it would be impossible to control.
Even if you could guarantee that governments and corporations wouldn't abuse such a system, you could never do the same for organized crime rings, or even teenage crackers.
It's all well and good to say that "police could use this system to track criminals". But what about "criminals could use this system to track police, and their targets". THAT is what is most worrying.
Vote Ron Paul and then you won't need to worry so much about federal intrusion.
if they're not concealed.
Put a little EMP generator near/past the checkout counter, so the chips can be destroyed by the customer after paying. And in the home, so personal items can be "cleaned".
Also, you could have a personal RF interference device with you to prevent snooping.
@gopher65 - "When RF jammers are outlawed, only outlaws will have RF jammers." Phhhhhhhhht. :oP~
1)There presently exist no mass-produced rfid tags which are capable of being detected more than a few hundred meters away. The power source, usually a small Lithium battery, would be incapable of supplying enough juice for that kind of range. Not to mention the FCC's stringent rules for RFID tags, which limit their output power to sub milli-Watts.
2)Each manufacturer has its own encryption format- active rfid, for the most part, has remained non-standardized due to each manufacturer's wish to control usage of their products.
Reception of the signals is quite easy, however, the proprietary encryption renders the data quite useless, I assure you.
3)Nilbud is quite right, in that passive tags can eaily be irradicated by breaking the lines conductive ink with a sharp object.
4)Hopefully the price of Active tags will remain high enough so that nobody will be tempted to leave them on the merchandise after it has be sold. There is where MY worries would begin.
But for the time being gents, there is nothing to worry about. McIntyre's take on the industry are as an outsider who has perhaps watched too many Star Trek episodes.
"Woot. Instant customized brainwashing."
---
Nobody will need to be brainwashed; that's the whole point. Everyone has buttons that can be pushed, desires to be catered to, beliefs to inspire zeal, etc. which can already be exploited to get almost any desired behavior. Just ask any skilled con man.
We'll stay satisfied and happily, sleepily manipulated. It's not "1984"; it's "Brave New World." One example: Television. TV became a "vast wasteland" not by trying to brainwash us but by giving us exactly what, according to ratings, most of us really want: escapes, diversions.
Of course there will always be some malcontents. But the same technology that keeps the sheep sleepy can keep the dogs in check too.
"...RFID tags can be read through almost anything except metal and water..."
---
"...Star fish and giant foams greet us with a smile
Before our heads go under we take a last look at the killing noise of the out of style..."
And by all means let's "downsize" this silly constitutional republic, with it's inane Bill of Rights, cumbersome due process and absurd so-called "democratic process" to the point of insignificance and place all power in the unquestionable benevolence, care and mercy of unbridled corporate capitalism.
If we do succeed in getting this government - the one granted to us by the founders - "out of our lives" exactly what will replace it?
The Constitution is our agreement with our federal government. It is supposed to limit the federal government but we have allowed the federal government to extend WAY beyond its scope. It's time to retract it to the agreed scope.
Federal projects that extend beyond its scope are better left to the States. Ron Paul is not against government, he's against government that is not authorized by the Constitution.
Read the Constitution. It is a simple document and outlines some very specific (and a few vague) responsibilities that we have laid upon our federal government. Other responsibilities are left to the States or the People.
Do not misread Ron Paul's desire for retraction of the Federal Government for desire for no government. He is not an anarchist, he's a man who has integrity and expects people, corporations, and government to live up to their agreements.
And finally, about those who say Ron Paul is an "isolationist" tell me this. Do you send your spouse to live in your neighbor's home? No, you don't. But that doesn't make you an isolationist in your neighborhood. Ron Paul wants our military out of other countries, and wants free trade with EVERYONE.