IP: We know whereyou are --surveillance in YOUR future! (or

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

TAGS ARE IT
Electronic tags are popping up all over the place, spurred by lower prices
and the need to track everything from gas purchases to kids.  Tag maker
Texas Instruments is selling the low-frequency, battery-free models for
about $2 apiece in bulk, and TI's working on a simpler model that it
anticipates will cost between 30 and 50 cents each.  Mobil Corp. is using a
Speedpass system, which allows customers driving cars with a tag attached to
a window to pump their gas and drive off -- the charge is billed
automatically to a credit card account.  Grocery stores with childcare areas
and children's entertainment arcades are using a wrist-tag system to
safeguard children and keep tabs on the parents, too.  Meanwhile, one
Madison Ave. property owner installed a tag-based security system in his
building to track the comings and goings of workers:  "We had a cleaning
lady who said she worked all night, and we know that she left at 9:04 p.m."
A new twist combines access control cards with tags attached to laptop
computers and other easily stolen gear.  If an unauthorized person tries to
walk out with the equipment, an alarm goes off.  (Wall Street Journal 20 Apr
98)  <http://www.wsj.com/>