I suppose the entry level of data contained in the chip would lend itself to a simpler method of discovery like a bar code which would adapt to a handheld device for less than the cost of a meal for 4 at Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia. And the handhelds can work with AA batteries which are cheap and easily available. Some vendors even have these devices "hardened" for a beating!! I, for one, resent being downgraded to the level of a pack of 12 rolls of Charmin on the shelf at WalMart...!!
-----Original Message----- From: b_s-wilk [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:46 PM Subject: Re: On Topic [Was: Not on topic] Topic was RFID in US passports. Comments are about being identified without permission and how that affects safety. People who don't travel outside of the country or who travel infrequently may not be aware of the possible outcomes of the technology plus the reactions of foreigners to it and to the demands of our government on theirs. The RFID technology in passports is a big pain/burden to all the countries who are expected to invest a lot of money in using our new passports--and creating their own RFID passports as demanded by the US--but those passports may be no better than existing forms of ID. Time will tell. RFID chips can be altered more easily than bar codes or mag strips. How safe and/or effective is that? Is altering the chip the same as destroying it? Technology IS politics whether we like it or not. Betty > How about we stick to politics of technology, not just rants? If this > list has changed then say so, no problem. It's one thing to go off > topic but still on technology, another if we are just going to start > doing political rants from nowhere. I didn't realize when I joined > the technology topic would include what people think of our political > system in Germany. ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************
