Real ID is an act passed that is requiring states to update their ID system, waiving laws prohibiting physical barriers at borders, and several other important immigration changes, asylum changes, etc.
There isn't much info on technical specifics worth mentioning, but here's a gist.
1. All states must share DMV databases amongst each other. Information about drivers is instantly available.
2. Security measures must be enhanced on all documents. (Holograms, small-print, etc).
3. Required for travel, entrance into federal facilities, nuclear power plants.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Blind Man's Bluff
The interesting topic of espionage, counter-espionage, and surveillance is covered pretty well by "Little Brother". An Orwellian supposition on our near future is the mainstay of this story, in which the populace is being monitored closely following terrorist attacks.
I found that while the scenario is a bit exaggerated, the technology and protocols are all entirely modern. The author makes an attempt at capturing today's technological subculture, and for the most part has been successful.
Small cameras, tracking software, histogram detection methods, wifi-detectors are all things we've encountered before (even if we don't know it). Their widespread use for the purposes of surveillance of an entire populace, and overt surveillance at that, simply has not been done in the United States as of yet; but the technology is there.
Okay, so we know the cameras are available, that's a no brainer, but what about gait tracking software? This rather interesting concept is something I'm not sure exists yet, but the premises are available. Use a camera to identify shapes, watch the change in these shapes and make a supposition on the nature of these changes.
This type of software does exist. Volvo, for instance, is using a derivative of this to help cars identify incoming obstacles, and automatically apply the brakes. The camera identifies a shape, identifies that it has gotten larger, or has quickly appeared close to the camera, and determines it is an obstacle. This is an improvement over current, radar/infrasound based technologies for reasons that are beyond the scope of this writing.
The technology I am most familiar with in the story, however, would be the cryptological methods described. Public/Private key, web-of-trust, middle-man attacks, are all things I've studied for a good while when concerned with web development. Use in the situations described is entirely plausible, and recommended!
Security is a continually evolving field, with many angles that need to be covered. It's interesting to see how the mathematical cryptography could be worked around with even more math using the histogram methods; Bayesier math. The simplistic elegance really contrasts with the complexity of higher math, an item touched upon in the story as well.
I found that while the scenario is a bit exaggerated, the technology and protocols are all entirely modern. The author makes an attempt at capturing today's technological subculture, and for the most part has been successful.
Small cameras, tracking software, histogram detection methods, wifi-detectors are all things we've encountered before (even if we don't know it). Their widespread use for the purposes of surveillance of an entire populace, and overt surveillance at that, simply has not been done in the United States as of yet; but the technology is there.
Okay, so we know the cameras are available, that's a no brainer, but what about gait tracking software? This rather interesting concept is something I'm not sure exists yet, but the premises are available. Use a camera to identify shapes, watch the change in these shapes and make a supposition on the nature of these changes.
This type of software does exist. Volvo, for instance, is using a derivative of this to help cars identify incoming obstacles, and automatically apply the brakes. The camera identifies a shape, identifies that it has gotten larger, or has quickly appeared close to the camera, and determines it is an obstacle. This is an improvement over current, radar/infrasound based technologies for reasons that are beyond the scope of this writing.
The technology I am most familiar with in the story, however, would be the cryptological methods described. Public/Private key, web-of-trust, middle-man attacks, are all things I've studied for a good while when concerned with web development. Use in the situations described is entirely plausible, and recommended!
Security is a continually evolving field, with many angles that need to be covered. It's interesting to see how the mathematical cryptography could be worked around with even more math using the histogram methods; Bayesier math. The simplistic elegance really contrasts with the complexity of higher math, an item touched upon in the story as well.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Nom nom nom
Okay. It's 4am, and this is now the fifth attempt at posting something here. Damn thing seems to have eaten my last however-many-posts. I'm fed up and about to collapse; so sorry this space will be filled sometime later when I'm awake.
In the meantime, I'll post something I wrote a while back when I was bored. The following is a copy/paste from a Facebook note I wrote (hah. that rhymed), and yes, I know it has nothing to do with anything. I just have this thing about after spending the last god knows how long trying to rewrite posts from memory, and still failing, that I shall not leave this space depressingly short.
Now I feel at least a little accomplished
I became interested in flight and aviation when I was much younger. My father would take me to Martin State Airport; pulled over at a little observation area near the fence. My grandfather would tell me stories about how F-86 Sabers saved him and his platoon in Korea.
Since then, I became interested in PC simulation, and military flight simulation. When I was in a writing mood I decided to write a few lines after hearing some stories from friends ( real combat pilots )I had met while flying these simulators.
In the meantime, I'll post something I wrote a while back when I was bored. The following is a copy/paste from a Facebook note I wrote (hah. that rhymed), and yes, I know it has nothing to do with anything. I just have this thing about after spending the last god knows how long trying to rewrite posts from memory, and still failing, that I shall not leave this space depressingly short.
Now I feel at least a little accomplished
I became interested in flight and aviation when I was much younger. My father would take me to Martin State Airport; pulled over at a little observation area near the fence. My grandfather would tell me stories about how F-86 Sabers saved him and his platoon in Korea.
Since then, I became interested in PC simulation, and military flight simulation. When I was in a writing mood I decided to write a few lines after hearing some stories from friends ( real combat pilots )I had met while flying these simulators.
-- Ode to the Falconeer
Soaring effortlessly amongst the windswept heaven,
Rising on metal wings above Angels Eleven,
He is the guardian of the unmet brothers down below,
Comrades with their arms in tow, marching to meet their dire foe.
When danger he spies from above, no time for them to heed his call.
Action conspires with fate, as he takes himself and his life into free fall.
Falling with the wrath of heaven,
The burning power blazing in the descent.
Diving with a fierce range in his eyes,
Smiting for liberty, in his Cadillac of the Skies.
--- Jack Rappazzo
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