Thoughts on GPS and Messaging Privacy

Location Tracking
     Recently, some people have suggested the introduction of a chip into kids in order to track them at all times. Parents would have the option to do this. Although it would help in some cases such as a kid napping, such individuals weird enough to kidnap would probably know how to cut out a chip. That is the only real benefit i can think of and it is nulled by the simplicity of getting rid of the chip. I think the loud speaker at toys r us will do just fine for now when someone can not find their child.

     I dont think parents have the right to implant chips in their children. When the child is too young to make decisions for themselves and may grow up regretting all of the information they have been tracked on their whole life, without even knowing. Even in teenage children i dont see how implanting a chip would make life better or safer. It would only ruin the whole parent vs teen battle though highschool as the teen becomes more independent; the parents have to let go and ironically, grow up.

     If a bill was ever in motion to pass inserting chips in all kids under the age of 5 i would only support it if those chips were taken out immediately at the age of five, and if only the parents had access to track the kids. Otherwise who could be tracking them? The tracking of senior citizens however, through the use of tracking shoes, I am all for. Sometimes when your old and no one is looking out for you its easy to misplace your self especially if your old and confused. Id agree with the tracking shoes but i dont think putting a chip in old people will prevent much. They usually dont go very far anyway. Having worked at a nursing home for three years i think we'll be alright withought tracking. But if it were to happen we would need some serious written rules.

Cell Phones and Privacy

     Although prepaid cell phones are a way for people to disappear "off the grid" they are still great for people who are on a short budget and may not have a cell phone and only use their home phone. When they go out of the house or on vacation they can use their phones to keep in touch with everyone at home. This is a good way to use the phones. Also, some people may not use their phones much and not need the extra minutes and texts a service gives you. With e-mail in its prime and internet opening doorways for business some people may not need phones as much as the next guy. However, for the most part I think pre-paid and pay as you go phones are useless nowadays because everyones on their phones all the time. So we may as well get rid of them to oust criminals from their sketchy ways.

     I think pre-paid cell phones should have only a name with them to coincide with the buy. Other than that i dont think they should be tracked or monitored to any amount of detail. This is because tracking a prepaid cell phone could just be to get people off track and mislead anyone who is tracking someone to another place. Also one could have someone else buy one. For them.

The First of Many

Hmm... so i guess this is what having a blog is like. Im really liking the direction this computer science is steering me. Living in a networked world is a lot different from the last generation.