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  • From: machett AT ibiblio.org
  • To: "Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/" <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Surveillance, USA
  • Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 17:24:14 -0400


updates:

>That was my thought also. I don't beleive the Auto manufacturers have much
>to do with tires.

Just because the auto industry doesn't make tires, doesn't mean they don't
have a say in the making of tires:
http://www.aiag.org/press/9004%2D02.html


>...tires are frequently
>subjected to horrible shock, vibration, puncture, and tremendous centrifugal
>forces. That's a great place to put sophisticated electronics like
>accelerometers, transponders, and the like. Second, a transponder in a tire
>would have to be pretty sophisticated and specifically tuned to each
>individual tire to determine a vehicles speed ... Fourth and lastly, tires
>don't have power sources.

(1) and (2) The purpose of these rfids would be inventory tracking, not
necessarily consumer or speed tracking. I don't think they're intended to
survive road use, but they might. They might also be useful in such disputes
as occurred between Firestone and Ford.
http://www.integratedsolutionsmag.com/articles/2001_11/011110.htm
>>
Tags can also be concealed in automobile tires to record manufacturing
information (including production date) in order to increase consumer safety.
"We work with a company that has tags that can survive the curing process for
tire manufacturing," Streppone said.
<<
(3) Windshields don't have power sources, either, but that's exactly where
toll booth "smart tags" are placed. Nor do Gilette razors have power
sources, but the Technology Review article also mentioned that Gilette has
begun implanting rfids in some of their razors in order to assist inventory
tracking at rfid-capable Walmart stores. For example:
http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/EPA/forefront/sp02/printedcircuits.html

Basically, this is all about inventory. Just think of the little circuits
slipped into all the books at Borders or B&N, and the readers standing guard
before the doorway. Just the other day, something in my bookbag set off the
alarm when I walked INTO the store.
Although the intent of such technology is benign, there's no guarantee of it
not being abused. An example can be seen with those toll booth smart tags.
The idea was to allow commuters to zip through tolls, thereby relieving
traffic congestion. But it's come to light that those same tags allow the
local government to track individual vehicles as they traverse the city. The
excuse given is to assist highway management, but one never knows. And who's
to say some third party won't develop the means to read the first party's
devices, thus being able to track the unsuspecting second party?

--Alan

P.S. -- my apologies to [some bloke] for revealing his superpowers. ;)




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