A Glimpse Into The Future?

[Bubba Wheels]

http://infowars.com

[Tekneek]

Do these photos indicate war crimes? I don't know. Certainly somebody can identify the soldiers in the photos, so those folks should go to prison for a very long time at the very least. We wouldn't tolerate this kind of activity from our enemies, so we should not tolerate it from our own side.

[Bubba Wheels]

What's really interesting to me is all the new 'people-tracking' technology that keeps appearing. As some of you may know, Wal-Mart is set to go full-bore with the whole RFID thing in the very near future. And I have actually listened to a radio report that Miami will soon install RFID onto its homeless population to better track them for 'their benefit and better assistance." No Joke.

[Tekneek]

What is "IFR" in this context? All that IFR means to me is Instrument Flight Rules, which I know is not what you're talking about.

[sabotai]

I think he means I(something) Face Recognition...? I don't know, but something that has a computer take the image of your face from the camera and add/update the database. In other words, it lets the place you know that you are there.

Casinos have been using this for years for their security.

That is, if that's what Bubba was talking about. The last time I made a speculation concearning Bubba, he flamed me for ignorance, so I'm trying to be clear that I'm simply guessing here.

[Bubba Wheels]

What is "IFR" in this context? All that IFR means to me is Instrument Flight Rules, which I know is not what you're talking about.

Its a new type of bar-code, contains slowly disintigrating 'radio something or other' that allows items (including people) to be tracked from one location to another. Stores will be able to track products going out the door to your home, area code, ect... (all for purely 'business reasons' of course!) Sounds a little like the 3-dimensional version of the computer cookie. Well, this is what the privacy advocates are saying. IBM and the retail users are stating that this is purely for 'inventory' reasons.

[Bubba Wheels]

I think he means I(something) Face Recognition...? I don't know, but something that has a computer take the image of your face from the camera and add/update the database. In other words, it lets the place you know that you are there.

Casinos have been using this for years for their security.

That is, if that's what Bubba was talking about. The last time I made a speculation concearning Bubba, he flamed me for ignorance, so I'm trying to be clear that I'm simply guessing here.

Sorry, Bubba can have an "itchy flame-finger." :)

Its called 'RFID", and IBM is manufacturing it for retail.

[Tekneek]

Of course it is only being used for retail uses. If the government can tap into it, it will definitely be abused by them. No telling what corporations will do, because they will do anything for money. Either way, such a system is bound to be abused and the only time you're going to hear about it is when they use it to catch some crime suspect, or to replace your faulty laptop/radio/etc even while you are on vacation. You won't hear about all the tracking they will do of people that have done nothing wrong, or have not made any special service requests.

[sabotai]

hxxp://www.infoworld.com/article/04/01/26/HNmsrfid_1.html

[Buccaneer]

One of the latest polls from ABC or CNN or something showed that a majority of those polled favored security over privacy. Govt agencies, certain corporations and technologists are just giddy about this. :mad:

[sterlingice]

Aww.. and I wanted to make a "The Future, Conan?" joke from the "In the Year 2000" sketch.

SI

[SunDancer]

Of course it is only being used for retail uses. If the government can tap into it, it will definitely be abused by them. No telling what corporations will do, because they will do anything for money. Either way, such a system is bound to be abused and the only time you're going to hear about it is when they use it to catch some crime suspect, or to replace your faulty laptop/radio/etc even while you are on vacation. You won't hear about all the tracking they will do of people that have done nothing wrong, or have not made any special service requests.

Could such a challenge to these be heard in the Supreme Court? Is Kerry or Bush pushing privacy? What exactly are cookies, how are they placed, and can they be "blocked from being placed"?

[kcchief19]

Well, count me as one who is 100 percent pro privacy-protection, but everybody getting their panties in a pinch over RFID somewhat amuses me. Personally, I find it just another reason not to shop at Wal-Mart.

These electronic tags are incredible small and have a limited application. These things are incredibly small and are battery powered, meaning they have a limited shelf life and broadcast range. The idea that you buy something at Wal-Mart and the next thing you know the FBI is digging up your rose bushes is a little silly -- after all, unless you pay cash at Wal-Mart, it's pretty easy to figure out what you're buying anyway. But because of the batter power, these things will only broadcast for so long and can only broadcast short distances.

If Wal-Mart is going whole hog, there has got to be some potential there for improving the supply chain and reducing costs. Wal-Mart didn't get where they are by writing a lot of checks.

Is Miami planning on planting RFID on the homeless? I doubt it, but if they were they sure couldn't do it legally. And they sure couldn't use the same devices Wal-Mart is using. This sounds like the kind of made-up or blown out of context stuff you hear from most sources cited by BW.

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. To borrow a phrase from Dennis Miller back when he was funny, please learn how to pronounce and spell this shit before you debate it. :)

[Buccaneer]

Matt, for now...for now. Have you ever witnessed any technology staying "small" and "limited"?

Dutch, nice post. Thanks.

[sabotai]

If Wal-Mart is going whole hog, there has got to be some potential there for improving the supply chain and reducing costs. Wal-Mart didn't get where they are by writing a lot of checks.

In fact, Wal-Mart is where it is today because they are always one of the first companies to embrace technology and use it in practical ways. Improving the supply chain and reducing costs is what they've done from day 1.

After reading more on this, it looks more of that "the world is ending, the world is ending!" knee-jerk reaction, and in a year everyone will have forgotten about since it doesn't effect them and the conspiracy theorists will have moved on to something else.

[VPI97]

Its a new type of bar-code, contains slowly disintigrating 'radio something or other' that allows items (including people) to be tracked from one location to another. Stores will be able to track products going out the door to your home, area code, ect... (all for purely 'business reasons' of course!) Sounds a little like the 3-dimensional version of the computer cookie. Well, this is what the privacy advocates are saying. IBM and the retail users are stating that this is purely for 'inventory' reasons.I was just put in charge of my company's RFID project (we work directly with Wal-Mart). The maximum range for these things is miniscule. It IS purely for inventory reasons.


If Wal-Mart is going whole hog, there has got to be some potential there for improving the supply chain and reducing costs. Wal-Mart didn't get where they are by writing a lot of checks.
Bingo.

[Dutch]

Matt, for now...for now. Have you ever witnessed any technology staying "small" and "limited"?

Dutch, nice post. Thanks.

Just happened to catch this one....I had to respond. I get a "nice post" about once a year and looks like this years "Nice Post Dutch" was for something I didn't say!

[Bubba Wheels]

Matt, for now...for now. Have you ever witnessed any technology staying "small" and "limited"?

Dutch, nice post. Thanks.

Well, this is it exactly. As someone who watched the original Star Trek series growing up (insert jokes here!) most of what they thought might be possible years from today have already been far surpassed. And if you check out the whole web-site I led with, an article(s) also discuss digital capsules that can be implanted into humans. There is company in Florida called 'Digital Angel" that may already have contracts with some South American countries for large-scale implantation. And in an area notorious for kidnapping-for-profit, this would make alot of sense. But what are the broader implications? Kind of my initial question.

[VPI97]

But what are the broader implications? Kind of my initial question.RFID technology could eventually be used in the form you speculated about (long range tracking of humans, etc) but the technology available at the moment is limited. As I mentioned above, I'm working directly with Wal-Mart on this topic and the specs that are involved are miniscule. The current range of the RFID is averaging 18 inches...the amount of data that currently be contained in the chip is 96 bits (a 12 digit barcode)...and the lifespan can reach just two years in an optimal environment. All of these are sure to be improved upon, but the huge upgrade that would be needed for "people-tracking" won't be anytime soon.

[kingnebwsu]

Aww.. and I wanted to make a "The Future, Conan?" joke from the "In the Year 2000" sketch.

SI

That's right SterlingIce! Let's all look to the future...ALL THE WAY TO THE YEAR 2000!!!

:cool: :cool: :cool:

[vex]

From what I read while I was at Wal-Mart, it will reach 15 feet.

[Hurst2112]

Ah, the mark of the beast.

Here come the plauges and that goat headed thingy.

[sterlingice]

That's right SterlingIce! Let's all look to the future...ALL THE WAY TO THE YEAR 2000!!!

:cool: :cool: :cool:
:D

SI

[sabotai]

From what I read while I was at Wal-Mart, it will reach 15 feet.

We're talking about RFID, not the label for a bottle of penis enlargement pills.

[Bubba Wheels]

RFID technology could eventually be used in the form you speculated about (long range tracking of humans, etc) but the technology available at the moment is limited. As I mentioned above, I'm working directly with Wal-Mart on this topic and the specs that are involved are miniscule. The current range of the RFID is averaging 18 inches...the amount of data that currently be contained in the chip is 96 bits (a 12 digit barcode)...and the lifespan can reach just two years in an optimal environment. All of these are sure to be improved upon, but the huge upgrade that would be needed for "people-tracking" won't be anytime soon.

Its still pretty amazing when you think about it. Something in print form will give off signals to a remote location so that it can be tracked, categorized, ect... And I wasn't aware that is can last for up to 2 years. All pretty amazing stuff, and far beyond what many (including myself) would have thought possible for this point in time.

[VPI97]

Its still pretty amazing when you think about it. Something in print form will give off signals to a remote location so that it can be tracked, categorized, ect... And I wasn't aware that is can last for up to 2 years. All pretty amazing stuff, and far beyond what many (including myself) would have thought possible for this point in time.Extremely amazing. What's even cooler is the fact that I have all the equipment to make them (industrial thermal printer, chip encoder, various media types with embedded transmitters, antennae) all on my desk right now. :) One of the companies that makes this technology send me $35,000 in free stuff to try out.