Loving the Alien
September 27th, 2007 - 9:50 pm
CHICAGO (AP) – A car circles a high-rise three times. Someone leaves a backpack in a park. Such things go unnoticed in big cities every day. But that could change in Chicago with a new video surveillance system that would recognize such anomalies and alert authorities to take a closer look.
On Thursday, the city and IBM Corp. are announcing the initial phase of what officials say could be the most advanced video security network in any U.S. city. The City of Broad Shoulders is getting eyes in the back of its head.
Getting a knee to the groin is more like it…
(h/t: Drudge)
The best analysis of this trend is David Brin’s 1999 book, The Transparent Society. Brin’s very persuasive argument is that cameras like this are in the long run a force for more freedom and safety, if and only if the citizenry, not just the police, have access to the data they generate. Is there any way to pry this loose from the police department?
Why do I have a mental picture of 40 of these thing hovering and crashing into each other while chasing a car driven by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi?
Isn’t this how Robocop started?
TO: Stephen Green
RE: Another Star Trek Moment?
I’m reminded of Nomad, from the Star Trek: Original episode titled The Changeling.
Is this an early prototype?
If so, how will IT or it’s more advanced models deal with a ‘mass of conflicting impulses’?
Regards,
Chuck(le)
P.S. Should I watch The Matrix or Terminator tonight?
How long before paintball guns are outlawed in Chicago?