|
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Ng: Downside of technology
By WILSON NG
WIRED DESKTOP
CAMERA. A few weeks ago, I figured in a car accident.
Strangely, the traffic officer simply talked to us. And while it is supposed to be standard procedure to produce a sketch and ask both people to sign this, he just got the license numbers and asked us to proceed to the government agency where it was documented.
Afraid that by moving the cars we would lose valuable evidence, I used the camera of my cellphone to take pictures of the accident site, as well as the plate numbers and identity of the various parties. Add that to the many uses of the camera-equipped cell phone.
These kinds of cell phones have been coming out in droves. In Japan, over 25 million cell phones are now equipped with cameras, and in the Philippines, it will definitely increase.
The other night, a friend showed me his cell phone, which now has 128 mb in additional memory. He is using the cell phone to get videos of his kids dancing participating in school plays.
If he had wanted to, he could also have easily recorded our conversation without my knowing it. In another seminar, I saw a friend take snapshots of Powerpoint slides containing valuable information, instead of writing down notes.
Such kinds of behavior or misbehavior are now being reported all over Asia.
Of course, there is the usual problem of taking photos up women’s skirts, or in the bathroom. Cell phones with cameras are now banned in casinos as well as in various places like in Japanese public houses. It is also banned in various research and semiconductor facilities to prevent industrial espionage. Before long, it could be banned in plays, locker rooms, and potentially also in theaters.
SHOPLIFTING. One variant of this problem is starting to be experienced by some bookstores in Korea and Japan. People browse news and magazines, and normally, will be able to see job opening advertisements, nice celebrity photos or good restaurant addresses. In the past, people bought the magazines, but now some of them are just snapping pictures of the page or the job opening, instead of buying the news.
Some are complaining that this is impacting their sales. There is a new term for this—digital shoplifting. There are also documented cases of friendships lost when inappropriate pictures were taken with the other party not knowing it.
On the other hand, the camera could be used for a good cause. People can easily photograph suspicious characters. A woman in Yokohama, Japan had a male person trying to fondle her. She was able to get his picture in her cell phone and use it to make a report to authorities. The authorities used this to apprehend the person on the next train stop.
Technology is neither good nor bad. It could lead to benefits or abuse. It is up to us to properly define the norms to use technology properly.
(Wilson welcomes comments at Wilson@esprint.com.)
(July 17, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
