It's amazing how much of our information is stored all over the internet for many years. Every email you ever sent, every website that you ever created an account on or purchased a product from, and every forum or blog that you've ever posted to (like this one).
Tracking systems such as VIN numbers and lot numbers that are placed on products has increased our security and safety. If your car is stolen it can be tracked back to you from the VIN number. If there is a product flaw you can easily identify and fix the problem and identify what products are affected and issue a recall.
RFID tags could create huge cost savings in the supply chain functions of companies, and in theft prevention in retail stores. However, as I read the section on RFID tags and Electronic Toll Systems (ETS), I was wondering why anyone would want to purchase a system that makes it easier for the police to catch you speeding. As you drive through the toll the speed of the RFID frequency tells the system how fast you are driving and can print you a ticket. I know that after I received my first ticket in the mail I would be trashing my ETS and buying a radar detector to instead put technology on my side for once. Also, the details of your location and what tolls you drive through are stored in a database that can now be easily accessed by the police or anyone that has access to your billing statement. It makes it a lot harder to cheat on your wife with an out of town girl that's for sure...
This chapter also discusses tracking the driving habits of your teenagers with a chip in the car that can alert you if they drive over a predetermined speed and where they're located. I'm just glad they didn't have that technology when I was a teenager, I feel sorry for the kids that will have this done to them. I wouldn't install that chip on my kids car, the more controlling and strict I am when they're a teenager the crazier they'll be when they're let loose in college. That is unless they can come up with another tracking tool for college, like that RFID tag that goes under your skin. They could have scanners in front of bars and frat houses, yeah that would be great!
3 comments:
Yeah that ETS technology is pretty ridiculous. I would never want that on my car. Sounds like a great way for the police to give out a few extra tickets.
As for the tracking device in your kid's car, I also agree that this is something I would not want to install. The more you baby and shelter your kids and try to control them at all times, the wilder they will be when they are finally free.
The driving habits of teens/HP article I thought was great for parents to let them know via a text message if their child take a car out and for how long, and maybe speed limit. But the amount of data that can simply be collected from putting a key in a car is quite scary. Especially thinking if the car companies themselves monitor the driving habits, or if they let insurance companies monitor driving habits that could really raise rates for some people.
A major theme of this book is how technology is always a two sided coin, it can be used for good and it can be used for bad. It is very difficult to know if the good will outweigh the bad of these technologies, and how much can we regulate any negative side effects.
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