Pervasive computing
Jerry Kang (UCLA, now visiting at Georgetown) has written about Pervasive Computing, and it does seem that sensors will likely be everywhere once their cost is sufficiently low.
Do we want to demand, through standards bodies or otherwise, that all sensors declare their presence? I have never been convinced that requiring privacy statements to be posted on web sites was good policy. Nor do I think that whois requirements (or labeling requirements generally for bits) are good ideas.
But for some reason I initially feel differently about making sensors visible. I don't feel the need to dictate what fields of information they must display or ensure that they have a kill function.. I just would like to know when they're around.
But.
Would making sensors visible dampen innovation in sensors? Would it make the world less interesting or complex? Would we start wishing that we didn't know about sensors, because their maddening “I'm over here!” beeping was driving us wild?
Human beings are remarkably resilient. The longterm message may be: Get over it. The world is watching you, but with any luck is too busy to care. Individuals are just not that interesting.
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