The last known witch trial is pegged somewhere in the late 1700s, but unfortunately that doesn`t mean suspicion and fear based on ignorance is a thing of the past, especially when it comes to new technologies.
Most people would like to think that some 300 years later, we are a little more sophisticated and informed than those who participated in the infamous witch-hunts centuries ago, but is the impulse behind this deplorable activity really a thing of the past?
Witch-hunting is something that has always made me uncomfortable because it points to something dark and sinister in the human psyche: a tendency to do irrational things when confronted with the unfamiliar or unknown.
This week, a news report proved beyond doubt that time has changed little in humans when it comes to ignorance.
My blood began to boil instantly after reading that a US consumer privacy group had called for a global boycott of Tesco stores over the company`s trial of radio frequency identification (RFID) chips. What is wrong with these people?
The article reminded me of the way people used to speculate in the 1970s about how long it would be until computers evolved into autonomous machines with artificial intelligence and took over the world.
Anyone growing up with PCs would think it laughable that not so long ago, computers were regarded by some with deep suspicion and reservation.
RFID technology enables the tracking of RFID tags using radio waves, but privacy groups have labelled them "spy chips" because they fear the tags can be used to track the behaviour of customers.
The key word is "fear", and what makes that fear intolerable, is that it is based on ignorance of a technology that is finally maturing in a way that it could open up a whole new chapter in supply chain transparency, aiding both consumers and producers of goods.
Tesco has been using RFID chips on cases of non-food items for some time at its distribution centres, but has now introduced trial programmes in selected stores to track high value items in an effort to improve their distribution process. What can be sinister about that?
My blood began to boil instantly after reading that a US consumer privacy group had called for a global boycott of Tesco stores over the company`s trial of RFID chips.
Warwick Ashford, technology editor, ITWeb
Despite these assurances, the privacy groups or contemporary witch-hunters, suspect Tesco might use this technology to track products once they have been purchased, thereby invading customers` privacy.
These groups are actively campaigning to get consumers to boycott Tesco because of the RFID trials. To me, this is tantamount to forming a lynch mob and leading them on a witch-hunt.
Clearly these groups have no understanding of RFID technology or its current limitations in terms of transmission range. While it is practical to track items in defined areas within the supply chain between distribution centres and stores, it would be virtually impossible to do so outside that context.
Instead of wasting time making stupid allegations about technologies they don`t understand and stalking about like anachronistic Luddites, leaders of these groups should get real about the technologies they fear by acquainting themselves with the facts.
Hopefully, as in days of old, sense will eventually prevail and the voice of reason will drown out the protestations of the ignorant to deliver better services to consumers through advanced real-time information-gathering and higher levels of automation in the supply chain.
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