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My, What Large Eyes You Have
Posted by Paul Szynol on Thursday, January 09 @ 01:54:21 EST Privacy
A high school in London will use a retina scanning device to charge students for lunch. The scanner will also be used in the library.

Coverage is here.

The program simply aims to eliminate the embarrassment caused to poor students, who eat lunch for free--a cause which I fully support.

Put in far less compassionate terms, though, in this instance the cost of avoiding social stigma for some is a compromise of privacy for all. Given the trade offs, I think magnetic strips on ID cards would have been a better alternative.

 
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Re: My, What Large Eyes You Have (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Thursday, January 09 @ 08:52:36 EST
"We think we are the first (school) in the country to use this," he said of the device. "But this is not a James Bond school for spies. ... This is not science fiction. This is technology that exists."

Knowing the habits of reporters, perhaps he didn't say these exact words -- but presuming he did, I think he doth protest too much.

Obviously this is a James Bond school for spies employing science fiction technology that does not exist.


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