Title: Seeing Crime Before It Happens(Technology)

URL: http://discovermagazine.com/2011/dec/02-big-idea-seeing-crime-before-it-happens

http://extensivereadingprogram.blogspot.com/2012/04/seeing-crime-before-it-happens.html?utm_source=BP_recent

Reading Time: 13minutes

Level of Difficulty: 3

Summary:

DHS was trying to develop a sensor called FAST to predict crimes through the subtlest of physical changes. In theory, FAST has the potential to detect terrorists in the final minutes before they act, but it denies that people have the capacity to control their own actions and to change their behavior in new environment. Although this technology has many problems , it is still worth pursuing.

Feedback/Comment:

Sensors judge a person who has criminal motivation only by measuring heart rate , breathing and some physical reactions. That sounds so skin-deep. Some people claim that people were friendly since they were born. However,others don’t think so. Anyway, only one thing is sure. That is ;environments have great impact on people and we can learn some fundamental concept of ethic through education. People who  disobey the law will be sent to the prison, but they are still miniority. It suggests that the majority of people can control their own actions. The system violates a basic tenet of personhood: free will. Thinking about one thing and actually doing are quite different. We can’t limit human’s freethinking. Even though this technology has many problems , it still has some deterrence. Just as you see a sign saying,“Video Surveillance Is in Operation”Whether the location set the surveillance camera or not,it still has a reductive effect. As a result , they are still worth pursuing.We shouldn’t deny their existence too early.

Discussion Issues

1. If this technology sensor is set in public, will it have positive effect?