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Community weekly poll: If the technology existed to track your movements...
- 12/12/06 3:49 PM
Phones as security devices
by CbrettC - 12/13/06 7:23 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
OK, I did my rant about privacy now on to the real issue. Cell phones save countless lives yearly. Look at how many of the rescues on Mt Rainier and Mt Hood are via cell phones and without nearby cell relay towers. Also if you contact your local law enforcement they can direct you to a group that will recycle your old "junk" phones. What happens is that they give these phones to people in need. These old phones are useless except for one thing - dialing 911, the phone does not even need the sim card to call 911. Now my guess is that most of you out there are too young to remember the first cell phone, the Motorola "brick" or the "bag phone." Well these analog phones operated at about 6 watts compared to the digital phones at about .5 watt. Now if the current phones in their "emergency" state were able to boost the transmission up, even to 3 or 4 watts the range and possibility of being heard is increased exponentially. Very simple to add to existing circuitry and no one would run in circles of paranoia thinking “big brother” has nothing better to do than watch them...
Surprised!
by SNShell - 12/13/06 7:34 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
I'm surprised no one has brought up the objection of millions of Christians [not all people who call themselves christian believe this. ;-))] to being tracked by governments or anyone else. Read about the "Mark of the Beast" in Revelation chapter 13.
Rev. 13:15 And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead,
17 and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. [NASV: New American Standard Version of the Bible]
Perhaps you are referring to verse 16 regarding the RFID--no one can buy or sell without that mark, let alone being tracked!
Anyway it's a thought to consider. Of course, the mark makes complete human sense!
This post is NOT intended to offend anyone. If it does, please accept my apology in advance.
cell phone tracking
by Mapski - 12/13/06 8:03 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
For those who have had to obtain a temporary or permanent protective order against someone, having a cell phone that could be tracked could potentially put them at risk. Would need the option to enable or disable such a feature.
Japan
by gijoemike - 12/13/06 8:40 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
The technology already exists. They have already been doing this in Japan. People have ability to see where others are located using cell phones and the web. There are ways to overcome the privacy and cost issues. We shouldn't think narrow minded.
Taiwan
by akhilneo - 12/15/06 2:22 AM In reply to: Japan by gijoemikeI've read thru all the posts carefully, before choosing this point in the discussion to post my 2-cents worth - this techno is also being used commercially here in Taiwan, where "security companies" use it (and advertise it widely.. so they must be a market for them!!) to help keep track of the young & the old alike.
Enuff's been argued about the types of technos/"privacy concerns" etc etc, so I won't waste any more space by contributing to any of those growing opinion-lists. Yes, its very very sad the way James Kim died... and call me an eternal optimist, but I'm glad his family did survive (and it WAS due to techno!!).
James Kim... RIP.
i dunno, maybe we are taking this big brother thing a bit fa
by back_water_tech - 12/13/06 9:17 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
ok, take the gps out of the cell phone and just implant it behind my left ear. 
are we begining to go too far with technology like this?
once we start down this path, where do we stop? start low-jacking our pets? our computers and dvd players?
who has access to this information? the government? the telco's?
These questions must be answered before we start deploying technology like this, or we may not like the results.
just my two cents. . . 
Possible misuse by others!!
by bknowledge - 12/13/06 10:13 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
Let us fore go the governmental misuse of such technology, my first worry is that of fellow citizens. Individual being able to track the movements of children and I don’t mean their parents. A stalker using such to follow a celebrity or provide constant updates to their current location. Being able to turn on the GPS locator on a cell phone when you dial 9-1-1 is great in emergencies but like too many things in the modern world little about the usage or who is using it is known and there is no punishment attached to the misuse of the technology.
reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements.
by hmlsr47 - 12/13/06 10:37 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
Security is top priority because access to such technology can and will be accessed by all persons with the "know how" to access it regardless of security "safeguards" designed to "prevent???" such "un-authorized" access. Is there a "crack-proofed" cryptograph or equivalent technology available??? I think not.
Come on guys, you really think this isn't already happening?
by vex - 12/13/06 10:51 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
Honestly, if you’re worried about invasion of privacy you’re too late. The government, big brother, whatever you really want to call the organization already has the ability to track what you say, and do. I read an article years ago about monitoring phone conversations via satellite. What this article depicted was technology being put to use allowing phone conversations to be scanned via satellite. The article explains the conversations are randomly scanned for certain phrases and words. If a certain string of words is picked up the conversation is then monitored by whatever computer the satellite is communicating with to determine whether the phone conversation is a possible threat. Now, I realize this was just some article I was reading in some magazine years ago, and I also don’t have the magazine anymore to actually give you the reference, but more than likely if the idea is there to be printed it is being put into effect somewhere. When it comes down to it we’re just the citizens of a nation, and have no idea at all what is really going on. We hear about some new technology that might be available one day, and for some reason think its some huge undiscovered breakthrough. Pretty much everything is tested; it can’t be that new and unused.
Did anyone read the news article (I think on yahoo.com) about a year ago about cell phone companies handing over your call logs to aid in the war against terrorism?
Am I against being tracked around the world? Am I against anyone knowing my every move? Of course I am! But for this subject just to be gaining publicity, and to be fooled into thinking this is new technology is ridiculous.
Think about this. During Hurricane Katrina I could use Google Earth to look at a satellite picture of my flooded house. You really think you can’t already be watched?
So you don’t think who you call is already tracked? Check some of these out.
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000202.html
http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR41780.NYC%20Cell%20Phones.072405.html
Privacy Smivasy
by jefffox - 12/13/06 10:53 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
Surprise! Most phones can already track you via GPS. How about satalite phones? I think they work when in an open area without line of sight cell towers.
Safety vs Privacy
by CLSmeed - 12/13/06 12:45 PM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
My main concern would be that of reliability. Privacy would not be an issue if a tracking feature was voluntary. If I'm on a road trip as the Kim family was, I would set my cell phone on "Tracking." Only those on my tracking list would be able to know my whereabouts.
I would be willing to pay a premium for this service, but it would be nice if I could implement this service only when I needed it.
Emergency tracking
by rvrnc - 12/13/06 2:40 PM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
I believe that cell phone companies should have some type of GPS on the cell phone handles which one could activate in emergency situations. My biggest concern are battery life, and reliability. It would be give at least me peace of mind if I were stranded in the middle of no where, or in an emergency. This would also benefit our senior citizens, which are in need of being tracked if allowed if they get lost or in an emergency. More can be added like Medical history, next of kin, etc. Yes I would be all for it.
They are watching.........
by 9mmammo - 12/13/06 4:38 PM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
I don't say that out of paranoia but from a business observation. My business is surveillance, if you carry your cell phone, THEY can place you in the cell vicinity, so if you're planning "covert/discreet" activity---leave the cell at home!
The cameras at intersections you see everywhere--dual purpose. You would be amazed at the telephoto/resolution capabilities of these "traffic cameras". The tech has been out there for a while now--I work with the stuff and as interesting as it is--I personally am very weary of the whole lot of it.
IF technology existed?
by jmknbsc - 12/13/06 7:00 PM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
What do you mean IF? The technology does exist & is in constant use everyday. It isn't universally in use for each & every one of us yet, but that day could be coming. No I'm not paranoid, yet, but I do work with some of this technology where cars, trucks, & vessels are constantly being tracked. Think Lo-Jack, think cellphone GPS, think electronic bracelets...
The technology does exist, it is in use & we had better find ways to keep it in reasonable control or we might be the poorer for it. Many if not most rental & leased vehicles use a system similar to an airplane's black box, which can tattle-tale on someone, say for example, following an accident, with recorded speeds, braking, erratic behavior, etc. These are only a few examples.
You asked IF?
(NT) Privacy.
by Ryo Hazuki - 12/14/06 5:53 AM In reply to: If the technology existed to track your movements... by Marc Bennett
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