Are My Shoes Watching Me?

For the past year or so, Nike and Apple have had an agreement together to sell the "Nike + iPod Sport Kit." Its simple in opperation: A small wireless device is put in the Nike running shoe and a counterpart wireless device is plugged into the iPod. Then data is recorded to the iPod, such as speed, calories burnt, distance run, ect. You can even sync the data to your computer every time you sync your iPod. This is great because people who really enjoy running can take their experience to another, more enjoyable level. The data can be usefule for training, or even online competitons held by Nike.

However, a report has come out recently that has made people think twice about what they are putting in their shoes. The report states that with the proper detection systems, a person's location and dirction can be traced based on the origional ID number that is being put out in the open air waves from the device in the shoe. Specifically, the sport kit device will transmit upto 60 feet. This clearly shows a danger as we are moving into the "wireless age." Everything that has wireless capabilities can be traced and located: A cell phone, wireless internet cards, even the little device in the running shoes.

The report goes further to point out that Apple and Nike could have taken more steps to prevent problems from arising such as encrypting the signal sent out by the wireless chip. This simple precaution would ensure protection of the right to privacy.

We are setting the scene to move towards a state where we are tagged and tracked like animals by our "superiours."