Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Please do not Disturb


Nothing in this world is perfect, the same goes for revolutionary technology such as Smart Dust. With improvements in surveillance and monitoring technology, privacy has become a growing concern. According to Professor Michael Mehta of the University of Saskatchewan, "as a precondition of trust, privacy is an essential ingredient in a society where 'social capital' is required for stimulating innovation." It is feared that smart dust will have a negative impact on privacy in all industries and functional areas. Smart dust poses a greater threat of privacy for older people because they are not as accustomed to being monitored as younger people are. Elders who are not as technologically advanced will find this IT to be intrusive. It's safe to say that I would not want to be monitored on a 24 hour, seven days a week basis.

Other Disadvantages of smart dust include:
  • Each "mote" costs up to 100$ today, but that price is expected to greatly decrease within the next few years.
  • Can pose a great threat such as terrorism if used by the wrong people. Smart dust can be used as a form of espionage, and can be used for the wrong reasons.
To learn more about how smart dust affects privacy visit http://www.innovationwatch-archive.com/choiceisyours/choiceisyours.2006.12.15.htm

References:
  1. http://www.northjersey.com/news/84759412__Smart_dust__aims_to_revolutionize_lives.html
  2. http://www.e-core.org.uk/content/smart_dust/smart.htm
  3. http://www.innovationwatch-archive.com/choiceisyours/choiceisyours.2006.12.15.htm

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