Sure, this technology has a lot of really insanely great uses and it’s really cool for geeks, but remember when Scully found that chip imbedded in her neck on the X-Files? Well, no need for aliens to do it for her anymore. Pretty soon, every Radio Shack will have them for sale.
Given Bush’s dream for America, just how long will it be before — for national security reasons (who could object to that?) — getting one is required? At birth? How much ya wanna bet there were at least discussions of this for terrorist detainees who were released. Any bets that it WAS done?
Computer chips get under skin of enthusiasts
With a wave of his hand, Amal Graafstra, a 29-year-old entrepreneur based in Vancouver, Canada, opens his front door. With another, he logs onto his computer.
Tiny radio frequency identification (RFID) computer chips inserted into Graafstra’s hands make it all possible.
The computer chips, which cost about $2, interact with a device installed in computers and other electronics. The chips are activated when they come within 3 inches of a so-called reader, which scans the data on the chips.
The RFID chip in Sklar’s hand, which is smaller than a grain of rice and can last up to 100 years, was injected by a surgeon in Los Angeles.
My dog has had one of these (or something similar) for about 7 years.
Works for identification of dogs anyway.
I read somewhere that the founder of Verichip received an award from the UN. Perhaps the dictatorships are thinking of planting the chip with vaccinations, which are being made more and more mandatory, including things like Hepatitis B.
So when the power goes out, you might be locked out of your house? Or if you move, and you have to install a new system with a different code? What then?
His response is probably something along the lines of “Oh well I always have a set of keys in my pocket just in case.”
Old news. The use I heard about is that each chip could hold the persons entire medical records in order to aid emergency room personnel. A little while ago Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania and Homeland Security Secretary was shilling them.
Until Congress can come up with safeguards and protection for users, I have no personal interest.
“The chips are activated when they come within 3 inches of a so-called reader . . .”
Horrors! If Bush has his (alleged) way all the NSA has to do is come within three inches of someone to track them down! Of course, within a few years this will probably climb to a foot or two. Frightening! One can easily imagine a chip-seeking missle which flies around blindly for days until it stumbles within a meter (extra-sensitive military technology, you see) of a target and then, BOOM!
Gary — if you’re seriously caviling over distance, you must not know any serious geeks. At Defcon, last year, off-the-shelf RFID tags were detected by amateurs at 50 feet. That limitation being the size of the room.
I’m glad to see your faith in government includes believing what they tell you about — who they watch and why.