On 28Jul2022 0017, NotKnown AtThisAddress - jeffrowse at hotmail.com
(via tml list) wrote:
> Hello Jim,
>
> Depending on the accuracy of the internal biosensors, an RFID chip would be redundant - and, in fact, a potential security risk.  If your doors etc can detect the person's skeleton then they could measure (for example) bone lengths and density, eye socket size, check for any historic fractures/breaks and healing etc - while forgers could duplicate an RFID chip or someone could "surgically" remove the body part containing the chip thus defeating the security measures.
>
> Although facial recognition is not well-regarded at the moment, it could be useful for controlling access and, assuming the door cameras are sensitive to more than just visible light frequencies, they could easily be used to scan the skeleton as above and also detect body temperature, heart rate etc to make sure any would-be hijackers have not cut off your fingers to open the lock on your phone... or the Bridge door!
>
> Also, what happens when the crew are buttoned up in armour?  If the RFID field is strong enough to penetrate combat armour (at least some of the crew will be in assigned to delay if not repel boarders, so will need something stronger than a lightweight skinsuit) then it will probably do all sorts of nasty things to the unprotected crew the rest of the time...
>
> Tully Zetford's (Kenneth Bulmer 😉) "Ryder Hook" stories had credit/banking cards embedded in people's wrists so all they needed to do was 'flash their wrist' at the scanner to pay for goods or services, and it would certainly make life easier for those of us who work in buildings with RFID-controlled doors  who keep forgetting our passes, so it's not an idea to be dismissed out-of-hand but by the time a society gets to the point where this becomes possible, they will usually have several alternative methods that are more secure (and don't require the User to expose themselves to relatively powerful electromagnetic fields!)
A lot of those methods require at least as much power be zapped through
a person as activating and RFID chip at a short distance does. A number
of them also assume a fair amount of computer power, not something in
huge evidence in much of the TU.

--
Rupert Boleyn <xxxxxx@gmail.com>