To Learn is to Live

Technology / Science is amoral. It is neither good nor evil.  Those distinctions come into how we apply the particular science / technology.

Taking the above into consideration, occasionally I hear about a piece of mad-science or (normally military) technology and a little piece of me is deeply deeply disturbed at what we humans can concoct.

Fox news recently reported on a Swiss patent application for what is essentially a 'Human remote kill switch'.  The patent was denied, but I cannot  help thinking that this won't stop the person who made the original application - it will just make them more secretive.

"The basic model would consist of a tiny GPS transceiver placed in a capsule and inserted under a person's skin, so that authorities could track him easily.  Model B would have an extra function — a dose of cyanide to remotely kill the wearer without muss or fuss if authorities deemed he'd become a public threat.

The inventor said the chip could be used to track terrorists, criminals, fugitives, illegal immigrants, political dissidents, domestic servants and foreigners overstaying their visas.

The inventors suggested applications are a chilling insight into the potential uses of the device. Instead of taking away your indentured maid's passport to ensure they cannot leave, just insert a kill switch so they literally live or die under your employ.

Full details and original article here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520331,00.html

[also i know fox news can be a sensationalist media outlet, but this story was too scary to ignore]