Technologically speaking, there's a real gap between "RFID chip" and "Mind control" but what the hell.

not so bad comparative mythology, it does pan out for the times. And arcology, that's what this is supposed to be, a condensed version. It's up to the viewer to look up aspects and refine with the particulars. I looked up the RFID thing and it is pretty scary - even more so when you couple it up with the whole American Union thing they have going now.

My opinion on the conspiracy angle though is slightly different. I personally don't think that the corporations have any grand vision they're pursuing, there's just a motivation that lends itself towards the same end.

this isn't so bad, it's the RFID passports and creditcards that bother me.

my opinions and concerns ... i'll keep them brief. while i think the concept of the RFID tag in its most substratal and fundemental form is brilliant, i know it is something that will be abused and vitiated by the nefarious who make decisions in this country.

And this is why encryption was developed. RFID tags are just the labelers, the same could (and does) happen for electronic badges and cell phones and such if proper security is not used to protect data stored on the tag. This has little to do with the tags and more to do with poor software development.

Funny, a few of my friends work at Hackensack Hospital. I would have thought I would have heard of this being implemented.

LadyBug, I'd like to hear your opinions and concerns. I follow RFID developments relatively closely, but I don't really have anything against its use in situations like this. Use is voluntary, and yes laws need to be developed to regulate use of privately-owned medical databases, but that has nothing to do with RFID tag use. (Such a system can be, and I believe is, implemented with other forms of identification like fingerprints and facial recognition.) The story skews the use of the tech, too, since the chip only acts as an identifier and security check with which to access the database online, not as the actual information storage system, so it's not like anybody could just pull records and medical information off the chip. Also, proper security measures (encryption, access limited to cleared hospitals) would ensure privacy.

The benefits of such a system would include making readily available information if the patient is unable to provide it (unconscious, suffering from memory loss, etc.), centralization of medical information, and reduction of patient idenfication/medical record mistakes. The last is actually a bigger problem than people think, doctors screw up because of the paper system all the time.

I'm for centralized medical information databases, and I think the RFID tag is an interesting, although perhaps not the most useful, implementation of the tech in this case. Security through obscurity, even in the medical profession, is a terrible idea, and it makes treating patients that much harder. We are safer with a properly protected, centralized database that is safeguarded through public and private measures.

In reply to your comment:
“i'm surprised this video hasn't garnered any strong opinions ...

*puts posting a strong opinion on hold*”

Funny, a few of my friends work at Hackensack Hospital. I would have thought I would have heard of this being implemented.

LadyBug, I'd like to hear your opinions and concerns. I follow RFID developments relatively closely, but I don't really have anything against its use in situations like this. Use is voluntary, and yes laws need to be developed to regulate use of privately-owned medical databases, but that has nothing to do with RFID tag use. (Such a system can be, and I believe is, implemented with other forms of identification like fingerprints and facial recognition.) The story skews the use of the tech, too, since the chip only acts as an identifier and security check with which to access the database online, not as the actual information storage system, so it's not like anybody could just pull records and medical information off the chip. Also, proper security measures (encryption, access limited to cleared hospitals) would ensure privacy.

The benefits of such a system would include making readily available information if the patient is unable to provide it (unconscious, suffering from memory loss, etc.), centralization of medical information, and reduction of patient idenfication/medical record mistakes. The last is actually a bigger problem than people think, doctors screw up because of the paper system all the time.

I'm for centralized medical information databases, and I think the RFID tag is an interesting, although perhaps not the most useful, implementation of the tech in this case. Security through obscurity, even in the medical profession, is a terrible idea, and it makes treating patients that much harder. We are safer with a properly protected, centralized database that is safeguarded through public and private measures.

ren: "woooh sounds kinky, i bet i can't join ;(
do you have membership cards and ID badges?"

So far all we have is a secret handshake and just one official sponsor... Haliburton. Membership cards are coming as soon as we can get the embedded RFID's coded.

pretty incredible considering there are a lot of buildings with RFID badge security and such...

Exactly, checking clothes is not enough. We should have DNA checks by age three and then be outfitted with non removable RFID collars that indicate our racial tendencies towards violence and other crimes.