'Pacemaker'-like GPS Device for Humans

LunarFox writes "Applied Digital Solutions has announced successful field trials of a prototype GPS device that can be implanted into humans. The device, which is internally rechargable, can wirelessly transmit location, movements and vital signs via the Internet, storing the info in a database. It's said to be the size of a pacemaker, but they intend to miniaturize it to one-tenth that size. You may recall this company as having designed the 'Digital Angel,' and 'Verichip,' a ricegrain-sized RFID chip like injectable pet tracking ID chips. This same company apparently made several denials in 2002 that their product(s) would be anything but externally worn. (like a wristwatch) Many other related links can be found at WorldNetDaily." On one hand the potential cool uses astound me, while the possibilty of abuse frightens me. A lot.

Re:You might call me paranoid...

[Eudial]

Well, if you were to make it out of a thin, soft plastic material, and make the wires extremely thin, it wouldn't show up on x-ray. it would, however show up on ultrasound.

Re:You might call me paranoid...

[VCAGuy]

Many devices do not show up as completely x-ray opaque

True, but you'd be hard pressed to create an electronic device that would not show up in an MRI. Any metal at all would create field distortion--and the plastic parts of the device would show up in the field as different from surrounding tissue.

Also, I don't think these would be undetectable by PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scanners--they find everything, including that chewing gum you swallowed a few months ago...

Re:Ummmm.....

[scalis]

What does internal rechargable mean? You don't have to take it out to recharge it? Where do you plug in the power cord at night? ::shudder as goatse image jumpes into head::

I know your post was to be funny but the article says that "The induction-based power-recharging method is similar to that used to recharge implantable pacemakers. This recharging technique functions without requiring any physical connection between the power source and the implant."
Just in case you actually DID wonder. This means that you dont have to get pysical with your mechanical goat just yet, and if you decide to be anyway, please dont let me know....

Re:Big Brother is watching!!

[dazed-n-confused]

I don't have a problem with convicted criminals being implanted, and their movements tracked for a certain amount of time, it'll reduce the prison populations and, hopefully, ensure convicts don't commit more crimes because theyd be found out easier.

Then you might enjoy this breaking news [bbc.co.uk] from the BBC:

Tagged youth jailed for killing

A teenager has been given three years detention for killing his girlfriend, a crime he committed while wearing an electronic tag.

The case is bound to renew debate into the effectiveness of tagging.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 16 at the time of the crime.

Curfew

He had denied murdering the 19-year-old woman, who also cannot be named, but was convicted of her manslaughter.

She was found shot in the chest in a block of flats on the Stockwell Gardens estate in south London in September last year.

The youth was under supervision in the community on an electronic tag when he shot her dead.

The judge called it a "tragic accident".

Your comments?

Very impractical....

[hughk]

First, GPS doesn't like shielding and wants to look upwards. Surrounding it with a salty wet sponge isn't going to help reception. GPS needs to orientate to a horizon, otherwise it won't see enough satellites.

Something embedded transmitting vital signs and GPS will use a reasonable amount of power. Batteries can't hack it because rechargeables need replacement after one to two years. Its no problem if it is something to help you live (i.e., a pacemaker), otherwise would you really want the thing replaced so often?

Personally, I think this is just a project to get Homeland Insecurity money and VC funding.

Been there, done that.

[NetDanzr]

SkyBitz [skybitz.com], a Virginia company, has developed a similar device a few years ago. Last I've heard (late 2000), they've been in talks with the Pentagon to get this device implanted into all soldiers, for more precise command and control.

Re:Big Brother is watching!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Your comments?

Yes, you need to get into an introductory-level class on statistics, critical thinking, or logic right away. You cannot extrapolate a general statement from a sample of one.

Re:Big Brother is watching!!

[praedor]

That's all great and it is one of the first things I thought of (after Big Brother). I am in the military and I tell you what, I would flatout refuse to allow anything like this to be implanted/injected into me regardless of its military utility.

I could perhaps accept a small, sub-q insert that is easily placed and, more importantly, easily removed immediately after I leave a combat/war arena but that is the absolute kicker. It can go in when going to a combat theater but it must, absolutely MUST come out the instant I come back. It does NOT get to stay in place. I'd quit the military, toss my commission, the works, before I allow such a device to remain inside me 24/7.

I assure you a LOT of other military members would react the same way as I do if this came to be a common/required tool in the military. Just the requirement for anthrax and smallpox vaccination has been enough to kick up a not insignificant amount of dust (and these are trivial). 24/7 GPS tracking/spying by implant would be a far bigger deal and would wreck the military.

Re:Big Brother is watching!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Big Brother is very much alive and well TODAY!!! The Department of Homeland Security (the domestic branch of Big Brother) used the Air and Marine Interdiction and Coordination Center in Riverside, Ca. to track Texas Democratic state representatives. They left Texas in protest of a Republican plan to redistrict and create new boundaries that would favor Republicans. Quoting from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram "The agency received a call to locate a specific Piper turboprop aircraft. It was determined that the plane belonged to former House Speaker Pete Laney." Laney is one of the Democrats who is fighting against the redistricting bill. Here you have the Republicans using Federal assets to track state elected officials You may agree or disagree with the actions of the Democrats, but they were clearly engaged in lawful political behavior. No objective person can doubt that the right wing in this country is ready willing and able to use unlawful means to subvert democracy. They are already doing it. WAKE UP!! These people are dangerous to democracy. Are you ready to be electronically tagged like a dog or cat?

Won't Work for Tracking Crooks

[John Murdoch]

Hi!

We explored the issues involved with tracking humans for a client [etrackerinc.com] a couple of years ago. Bottom line: you can only track humans who a) know they are being tracked, and b) are willing to participate. The converse is true: you cannot track someone who is not willing to participate.

The crucial point is this: it is possible to do field trials with willing subjects, to demonstrate the feasibility of receiving signals. However--it is child's play to defeat the system. And a tracking system that can be defeated is substantially worse than no system at all.

How GPS works
Most geeks understand the idea behind GPS, in the sense of determining position based on comparing the time signatures broadcast from multiple satellites. What many people don't realize is how low the signal strength actually is: it's actually not much stronger than background radiation. GPS works because DSPs can dig the signals out of that background radiation and get the data. Key point: Very Weak Signal.

Result: It's easy to defeat
Because the GPS signal is so weak, you lose GPS lock (the ability to receive signals from enough satellites) all the time. You lose it going into practically any building; you lose it in tunnels; you can frequently lose it in urban areas (like Manhattan). As a consequence, GPS chipsets simply store (and report) their last known good position. That's usually a good thing. If you're tracking a convict, it could be a very bad thing.

A very bad thing: here's why
A while ago we were contacted by a government official with a specific challenge: in the official's words, "In 40% of all homicides the victim has an outstanding Protection From Abuse order against her attacker." I don't know how accurate that figure is--but it's a compelling number. What the official wanted to do was put a GPS tracking device on people (99% men) with current PFA orders. Great idea!

Except...it is brutally easy to defeat the GPS tracker. Just wrap the device with aluminum foil--or simply cover the GPS antenna with aluminum foil. The GPS unit will simply lose lock--and keep recording your position as the last known good (LKG) position. You can then travel across town, secure in the knowledge that the device cannot report your actual location and warn your ex-wife. And after you've successfully beaten her to death, you'll be able to present the county's own data to demonstrate that while the crime was in progress you were at home--because the GPS unit thinks you're still at the LKG point.

Bottom line:
Great idea. (And I'll elaborate in another message.) But not a viable idea for tracking perps.