It appears that air travel is going to be the new frontier for high-tech privacy invasion taking place in the name of security, efficiency and convenience … and now “customer service.”
There was a time not long ago where rumblings about facial recognition and other forms of biometric identification for use in travel was dismissed as a science fiction that could not be achieved and that most people would not tolerate it if biometric ID ever became a reality. As I covered last week, this is science fiction no longer as airports around the United States and the world are beginning to implement biometrics at varying degrees of scale with little to no resistance from the traveling public.
It behooves us, then, to look at another trend that has been taking shape slowly but surely: augmented reality.
Google and Microsoft both have been investing heavily in augmented reality applications. Google, of course, has their Google Glass which has been met by a lukewarm reception at best, but the general idea to merge smartphone applications into a wearable interface is still being pursued with enthusiasm.
Microsoft began its foray into augmented reality in the entertainment arena. Now, however, it serves as an illustration of how this technology can spread into the lives of people who might have zero natural interest in video game or “smart” applications. According to News.com.au they might be subjected to it on future flights, as stated by Jonathan Glenister:
The Microsoft HoloLens allows you to combine holograms with the physical world around you … We worked with the Air New Zealand cabin crew to trial a Microsoft HoloLens application. The app uses cognitive services and surfaces relevant data about the passenger, their preferences and their journey.
The “data” about the passenger and their “preferences,” it turns out, is set to be incredibly invasive:
- through advanced facial technology, he is able to recall details about a passenger’s destination, allergies, and even the time since they got their last beverage.
- It even assesses the passenger’s mood. You can see his mood change from “anxious” to “calm” as the flight attendant addresses his concerns.
HoloLens was introduced to the public in 2016 as a concept for developers and businesses that carried a steep price tag of $3,000. It is interesting to see how the initial concept as covered by Mashable last year in the first video dovetails with how it is likely to be used by airlines, as shown in the second video. Essentially, as with all smart technology, it moves from a one-way consumer-directed application, to a two-way data collection system of tracking and surveillance. It is also worth keeping in mind that air travel is no longer a type of willing contract with a private company; under the umbrella of anti-terrorism, governments will also be very interested in this additional data and are likely to have easy access to it if requested.
RFID Scan Blockers – Available for Free (Ad)
The general concept that is being undertaken is to introduce a world of “Hyper-reality” where our everyday experience becomes overlaid with data points on everything from credit score, to social media presence, to consumer reports and preferences. It’s only in the testing phase at this point but, as we should know by now, the old maxim that “what the mind can conceive, it can achieve” was never truer than in today’s world of exponential growth in computing. To see where all of this could be heading, here is one possible future as augmented reality expands …
With two intelligence agency-connected tech behemoths like Google and Microsoft investing so vigorously in augmented reality, a “smart” future appears to be on the way sooner rather than later. And as government is now openly embracing a Minority Report-like future of pre-crime high-tech surveillance systems with an emotional component, we should probably ask ourselves if we are willing to accept these tests and how open we are to becoming the subjects.
Hat Tip: Technocracy.News
Nicholas West writes for ActivistPost.com. He also writes for Counter Markets agorist newsletter.
This article may be freely republished in part or in full with author attribution and source link.
I just augmented my own reality and renewed my vow to never, never, fly again. Back in the day when I did fly, Air New Zealand was my favourite airline so it’s damn disappointing that they should be hyping this invasive technology. A pox on Microsoft and Google.
I loved Air New Zealand, Cathay, Singapore Airlines – never used a crappy US airline!
What about those who are Autistic, who have Aspergers, or a neurological disability? Will they be misinterpreted as having ‘anti-social behaviour’ and not being ‘mutual’?
Many ASD’s look normal.
Will the red coding on the visor cause a forced removal, an on-board / in-flight beating, tasering, and isolation?
New Zealand is a testing and proving ground for this type of electro-political mindset.
You would think that as a crew member, they should have been trained to assist the flying public without the need for a visor that can also be hacked, defective, and programmed to give false information on a Targeted Individual!
SHAME ON YOU, JOHN KEY!!!
Haha, Trump would never get on an airplane.
Oh my, what to do? Anyone have a technique to apply so we may defeat this intrusion into our lives? The answer has to be of an non technical variety. I will loath flying again but I must sometime.
Don’t think I would even talk to someone wearing such a device, whether I was on their plane or anywhere else.
I would wear them to watch all Politicians and Preachers. Who knows when they are talking BS!
ha, better to seen when they do NOT talk BS – pretty rare, though.