Hi Dan,
If only it were just cans of coke
I think what we're seeing is an underlying trend towards a day when
every physical thing bears a unique identify. So be it, we may as well
say, because it's inevitable.
It's even possible that this particular device will be usurped by
another, smaller and even more powerful, now that interest is churning.
It's either that or this version will be improved over time. Maybe a
version will generate micro-signals that would allow people to know a
whole lot about a home without even going inside. Police, government ...
not to mention hackers, will be delighted with the possibilities.
About the only thing that would surprise even us is the speed with which
changes like this can be implemented. We're not talking a hundred years
before manufacturers are routinely churning out products bearing unique
ids. We may not even be talking 10.
We read every day about all these big things going on in the world, from
these inventions to invasion, but there doesn't seem to be anything
going on about what our elected representatives are doing to protect
(dare I say strenthen?) individual rights and liberties in this new age.
Will mfg's be permitted to add some sort of transmitter to these
devices? Would we be responsible to carry tagged ID cards? One in every
car?
Technology is changing so many things so fast, but many of the benefits
gravitate upwards to the government and wealthy, and nobody seems very
interested in what it all means to us, the ordinary people of this
planet.
With respect to these devices, someone should be pushing for legislation
that prohibits these devices from ever generating signals. Reason: we
simply don't want authorities or hackers even considering the
possibilities. But I wonder if anyone in Congress is even thinking along
these lines?
Bill
> Bill: (moved to [OT])
>
> The first thought that comes to mind is, "Who gives a rat's ass about
> individual cans of Coke?" However, I guess some marketing genius
> (substitute words: "idiot", "asshole", etc.) would probably
> like to know
> the migration patterns for coke cans, how far they stray from
> their factory
> before being consumed, etc. And that will be a HUGE data
> processing job,
> and provide lots of employment for us programmers. Or the
> ones in India. :-(
>
> Dan Covill
>
>
>
[excessive quoting removed by server]
©2003 Bill Arnold |
