FBI compiling big database of physical traits

FBI compiling big database of physical traits

Project would give the government unprecedented tool to identify people

 

“The FBI has embarked on a $1 billion effort to build the world's largest computer database of peoples' physical characteristics, a project that would give the government unprecedented abilities to identify individuals in the United States and abroad.

 

Digital images of faces, fingerprints and palm patterns already are flowing into FBI systems in a climate-controlled, secure basement here. Next month, the FBI intends to award a 10-year contract that significantly would expand the amount and kinds of biometric information it receives.”

 

I have mixed feelings about this. This is the same government that helped out New Orleans after Katrina. I don’t do anything naughty and worthy of FBI attention, so on one hand I like this database which can be used to catch the bad guys. On the other hand, I don’t really want to be identified as a suspect of interest just because I stubbed my toe and some camera somewhere videos my limp which matches someone else who they are interested in.

 

Full story: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/5399688.html

 

-DT

 

This is totally at the top of my Christmas list

Santa – do you read blogs??? If so can you buy me one at Think Geek? http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/9c9d/

 

 

 

Fulfill my geek dreams – it is a Bluetooth enabled, touchscreen cell phone GSM watch. Talk time 100-180 minutes, standby time 140-200 hours. Unlocked GSM, charges by standard Bluetooth, plays MP3 and movie files, comes with 60MB of storage… gosh I really want one of these!

 

It’s a little large for a watch, but not as big as the Palm Pilot watch I already own…

 

Now if it had a 3 megapixel camera, and connected to my corporate Blackberry server, and had a easily re-skinned interface, and synched with iTunes, and had a Nextel style push to talk feature, and allowed me to make on the fly videos, and emailed photos/videos, and had at least 8 GB of storage, and uh, ok, maybe it isn’t the perfect device.

 

-DT