[liberationtech] New microchip for smartphones to provide unprecedented ultra-precise location data

[Yishay Mor]

Maybe obvious, but the technology itself is neither good or evil. Its what
you do with it. I can think of a variety of wonderful applications for this
technology. Starting from locating people in a situation of crisis to
location-based games and educational experiences ("to your left, you can
see.."). The issue is that people need to (a) be aware of the
privacy implications an (b) have control over when their location data is
collected and who can see it.

____________________
Dr. Yishay Mor
Senior Lecturer, Educational Technology
http://iet.open.ac.uk/people/yishay.mor
+44 1908 6 59373


On 12 April 2012 19:07, Katrin Verclas <katrin at mobileactive.org> wrote:

> Welcome to the new world ultra-precise location tracking on your phone...
>
> http://www.activistpost.com/2012/04/new-microchip-for-smartphones-to.html
>
> Excerpt:
>
> >
> > 'The Broadcom Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, recently
> > unveiled a brand new microchip for smartphones which will provide
> > ultra-precise location details, potentially even within a few
> > centimeters, far beyond what current smartphones can detect.
> >
> > Today cell phones, but smartphones in particular, have become one of
> > the most powerful surveillance tools available with Carrier IQ,
> > citizen spying applications distributed by both the private sector
> > and government agencies, techniques to encourage citizen spying, and
> > a total lack of privacy.
> >
> > The new chip, called Broadcom 4752 or BCM4752, will relay
> > information about the vertical and horizontal position, if the
> > individual is indoors or out, all through combining a wide variety
> > of information sources.
> >
> >
>
>
> Katrin Verclas
> MobileActive.org
> katrin at mobileactive.org
>
> skype/twitter: katrinskaya
> (347) 281-7191
>
> Check out SaferMobile.org
> Using Mobile Technology More Securely. For Activists, Rights Defenders,
> and Journalists.
> https://safermobile.org
>
> MobileActive.org: A global network of people using mobile technology for
> social impact
> http://mobileactive.org
>
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