Happy Wonderer

True, my point was random, GUIDS are not. I do not remember all of what goes into them but it includes the internal network card ID (not IP address), time the guid was created, system board ID if available and a bunch of other stuff that is generally regarded as unique. GUIDs exist to create a unique number for identifying interfaces, using them to track what machine a document was created on is something that some clever person came up with later.

For RF tags, the point is that some version of an RF tag wer created that included the lot number and time the product was created (both very useful items for inventory control) then you may essentially have an RF guid. If the time is in milliseconds, then the concatanation of UPC code, manufacturer, and time of creation will fairly uniquely identify a product such as a wristwatch or pair of shoes.

For the paranoid, one could imagine storing that GUID with the credit card transaction. One could then tell whose shoes were passing by the turnstile on the subway.

I'm not arguing that it is all that big of a deal, we are getting good enough at biometrics that within a few years in theory we should be able to automatically track people using cameras, even within crowds. RF tags probably don't add much to that capability.

It is the marketing uses that worry me as far as making life a pain.

hw

Jat

You can't go through life with your eyes closed. In the movie you weren't even free from it in your own home.

NialScorva

Or you can get the tag disabled at the register. Or you can put your shoes in the microwave for 5 seconds. It wouldn't suprise me if the kill switch can be fired by using a large enough magnet like current RC tags.

Feel free to get excited, but I'm going to save my energy for the day that they actually start to install readers into turnstiles or roving vans.

Loren Pechtel

Originally posted by Happy Wonderer
True, my point was random, GUIDS are not. I do not remember all of what goes into them but it includes the internal network card ID (not IP address), time the guid was created, system board ID if available and a bunch of other stuff that is generally regarded as unique. GUIDs exist to create a unique number for identifying interfaces, using them to track what machine a document was created on is something that some clever person came up with later.

They are also convenient for ensuring something is unique, such as for duplicate detection. I've used them for that purpose before.

For RF tags, the point is that some version of an RF tag wer created that included the lot number and time the product was created (both very useful items for inventory control) then you may essentially have an RF guid. If the time is in milliseconds, then the concatanation of UPC code, manufacturer, and time of creation will fairly uniquely identify a product such as a wristwatch or pair of shoes.

For the paranoid, one could imagine storing that GUID with the credit card transaction. One could then tell whose shoes were passing by the turnstile on the subway.

Agreed. The VCR scenario isn't reasonable but this one is. The subway turnstile is confined enough for the tags to be read.

I'm not arguing that it is all that big of a deal, we are getting good enough at biometrics that within a few years in theory we should be able to automatically track people using cameras, even within crowds. RF tags probably don't add much to that capability.

Agreed. It's rather a moot point.