In an era where instant communication and technology provide easy and ready access to information, us as individuals are caught between two very controversial principles. Open information and privacy. The perceptions and expectations of privacy are rapidly
changing as a result of recent development in surveillance technologies. The question is: are these new surveillance technologies a way of the government watching, or protecting us? When you look up the word surveillance it is defined as a "close kept watch over someone or something." Surveillance is not a new concept, it has been being used ever since the beginning of civilization. However; with the influence of technology, it has evolved in ways that no one can ever imagine. We have smartphones that can determine our location, video game systems that can tune in to what your voice is saying and take pictures, and even radars detecting movement from 50 feet. In an article I saw on the web at least 50 law enforcement agencies have been secretly equipped with radars that allow them to see inside of your house and view how many people there are, what they are doing, and even their heart rate. The fact that we have equipment capable of detecting heart rate 50 yards away is scary, yet beneficial. What if they bust a trap house? The police can use their radars to determine how many people there are and a plan as to how to arrest all the convicts without any deaths. Also another example would be our smartphones. They have webcams that the government has access to, which they can use to determine what we are doing, who we are with and where we are, and we have no control over when they could observe us. Which brings me back to 1984. When everyone was working out and Winston stopped, the telescreen immediately told him to continue on. Eventually with the way technology is advancing year by year, we are soon to be monitored on a daily basis. What's next?
changing as a result of recent development in surveillance technologies. The question is: are these new surveillance technologies a way of the government watching, or protecting us? When you look up the word surveillance it is defined as a "close kept watch over someone or something." Surveillance is not a new concept, it has been being used ever since the beginning of civilization. However; with the influence of technology, it has evolved in ways that no one can ever imagine. We have smartphones that can determine our location, video game systems that can tune in to what your voice is saying and take pictures, and even radars detecting movement from 50 feet. In an article I saw on the web at least 50 law enforcement agencies have been secretly equipped with radars that allow them to see inside of your house and view how many people there are, what they are doing, and even their heart rate. The fact that we have equipment capable of detecting heart rate 50 yards away is scary, yet beneficial. What if they bust a trap house? The police can use their radars to determine how many people there are and a plan as to how to arrest all the convicts without any deaths. Also another example would be our smartphones. They have webcams that the government has access to, which they can use to determine what we are doing, who we are with and where we are, and we have no control over when they could observe us. Which brings me back to 1984. When everyone was working out and Winston stopped, the telescreen immediately told him to continue on. Eventually with the way technology is advancing year by year, we are soon to be monitored on a daily basis. What's next?
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