All Eyes on You

Hopefully everyone has seen Minority Report. If you haven't-go rent it this weekend. It's a good film about what could be, about big brother, about what our world is coming to. Mind reading and prediction. Before Tommy went completely psycho. Earlier this week we watched Mission Impossible, another good movie before he started jumping on couches. It's dated in 1996 technology I realize but anyhoo......

Yesterday the Captain brought up this light-hearted topic as influenced by an article he read about the creation of the most secure city in the world. Baffling. If you don't care to read it, iris scanners are in the process of being implemented in Leon, Mexico in partnership with Global Rainmakers, Inc. (GRI). Criminals with have their irises scanned, regular citizens (which amount to over a million) will have the option. These scanners will be implemented at every possible location: banks, ATMs, train and bus stops, restaurants, etc. where participants will have the option of using their unique eyes like bank cards. Police will be able to monitor criminals and security at traffic stops, airports, etc. The optimists predict that there will be iris scanners throughout the world within 10 years and it will become the primary transaction. Think about scanning your eyes when you want to start your car - how easy is it going to be to lend your truck to your friend when you are moving. Scanning your eyes to open your house and turn off the alarm.

I don't like the idea of Big Brother. 1984 scared me. A Brave New World, while one of my favorite books makes me cringe at the thought of the control of human creation and emotions. However, I am a realist. I use a debit card (don't we all think it's better than cash?) which means anyone can look at my history and find out where I buy my gas, prefer to eat, or find the best deals on groceries. I don't twitter but I'm addicted to facespace. Just this morning a new check-in feature was added to my 'friends' can better keep track of me. As if the majority of them really care. And of course I blog. I cringe at the thought of my personal liberties being taken away, slowly chipped away very quickly and without much objection minus some venting to the Captain or my close friends over drinks.

I'm very interested to see how this plays out. How everything is handled and implemented. If the costs far out weigh the benefits. If citizens truly realize what is happening or if everyone will be lining up to get scanned and put in the system. It's a scary thought.

Cheers!