By Geoff Metcalf I recently read a chilling story in MIT's Technology Review that was beyond spooky. The glass is also half-empty when it is half full. These things have apparently been around as long as Echelon although primarily very vertically targeted to specialized industries. Unless or until someone can significantly reduce the cost, these devices will remain the erotic dream of marketing mavens and government spooks. Engineers are hard at work striving for that cost-efficient coefficient.
Biometric tools are unique individual identifiers like fingerprints, retinal scans and DNA profiles.
Americans and assorted privacy groups have resisted establishing such personal invasions of privacy. In it, everyone in the future is required to have a sub-dermal biochip implant. I noted that although it was science fiction, the technology exists now. Despite the apathy and myopia of the American people, a sub-dermal biochip implant may well be too invasive a solution even for limousine liberals. I admit that when I read about this nanotechnology stuff my eyes kind of glaze over and my comprehension and appreciation of the technology is overshadowed by my deep and abiding loathing for any and all assaults on my privacy.