Redefining the School Dress Code
OKAYAMA — School uniform maker Ogo-Sangyo Co has released blazers mounted with global positioning system for grade school pupils which allow parents to keep track of their children's whereabouts...
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Direct and Indirect Implications of Biometrics
"A new report has been published concerning the new EU requirement for biometric passports, visas and residence permits from 2006. Biometrics are often thought of only in terms of security and border controls, but the report makes the claim that there will be a ’function creep’ introducing biometric technologies in other areas as well.

From a health perspective the report is interesting because of its treatment of the medical aspects of the use of biometric technology. It identifies two types of implications: direct and indirect.

Direct implications are the ones that pose an actual health risk, like biometric equipment being contaminated or retina scans damaging eyesight. These, however, are treated as unsubstantiated fears rather than actual risks.

Indirect implications, however, are seen as more serious. For example the storage of sensitive health information raises questions about privacy and potential misuse."
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Social Concerns in Biometrics
First of all, did you know that you might be one of the lucky ones who cannot be controlled through biometrics?

"Any biometrics program must be prepared to deal with individuals who cannot or will not participate in the program. Some people, through no fault of their own, cannot provide the chosen biometric because they have immeasurable fingerprints or eyes, for example. Thus, all biometric systems have a small number of people who simply cannot be enrolled."

But even if you're "immeasurable", they will eventually get you:

"Some people will stubbornly refuse to learn and use the device, which is normal. Communication is essential, though, for sooner or later they will have to conform in order to gain access... proper training and education should always be part of the implementation plan for any new installation or modification of an existing biometric device."
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A Better Biometric Mouse
"Back-up power firm APC has gone off on a slight tangent by announcing a fingerprint scanning mouse.
The scanning technology is from Authentec which already supplies Toshiba among others. Authentec can scan fingerprints below the surface of the skin to the live layer or true fingerprint."
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Hell Cab
New Yorkers will soon be hailing high-tech taxis.
Starting this fall, passengers might be able to watch news on a back seat screen, pay with a credit card and, thanks to a wireless tracking system, retrieve lost belongings that might have otherwise been gone forever... but some fear the technology, which will be required for all 12,787 yellow taxis, exacts a high price for riders and drivers: loss of privacy and peace.
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