[Linkzoid]

This article is freaky. It goes back to Surveillance and the current changes and developments taking place in this field.
The article looks at a new computer system which is able to monitor the actions of retail staff on a checkout. The cameras and computer coupled together are able to register and analyse the movements of the staff member, in real time, in order to check if they are "sweathearting". This is a term for where the cashiers may deliberately obscure a bar code or not scan an item in order to give things away to friends.



The scary part is that this system can monitor an entire department store with no need for a human security guard (like the one in the pic) , it has replaced the need for many security staff memebrs to monitor the banks of screens that represent the hundreds of in store cameras. Instead, when this "sweethearting" is detected it simply alerts a single security guard who can then review the relevant piece of recorded footage and take action.

How long would it take to develop this system further? it has the very disturbing ring of Orwell's 1984 to it...cameras watching us, keeping our movements and behaviour patterns in check. Panoptical theory is also apparent, we would be altering our behaviour through fear of being watched. This is much like current surveillance theory but this seems to add a new dimension to it...What if the computer goes wrong? what happens if we come to rely to heavily on this sort of system for domestic and international security ( the arctilce mentions a similar system with audio being developed to go in aircraft) and it gets it wrong? Are we prepared to put lives at risk through use of a system like this....?

Article here...