GAO Highlights Potential Misuse of RFID Chips in Federal Government

A report published last week from the Government Accountability Office documented that 13 (of 23 surveyed) of the largest federal agencies are currently using or plan to use RFID technology. The concern is that just one had identified or thought through legal or privacy issues. Several agencies did reveal that the technology would allow staff locations to be tracked. It’s great that the GAO is keeping an eye on this in the government. Hopefully, it will perk up attention to such matters in the private and consumer sectors.

Mapping Obesity “Opportunities” Near Philly Schools

The University of Pennsylvania has a Cartographic Modeling Laboratory which is exploring the environment around the city’s schools to look for “food opportunities” as well as “recreational opportunities” for young people. The idea is to see if there’s a correlation between obesity and the nature of the food environment. (I suspect there is.) The lab also tackles other social issues such as violence, crime, deaths during heat emergencies and others. Interesting reading including the unsurprising news that kids will forgo fruit for the 25 cent bags of chips on sale.

Intergraph, Layoffs and Older Workers

An interesting article in the Huntsville Times details some of the process that laid off workers go through at Intergraph. The good news: “Intergraph attorney David Lucas said … there hasn’t been a “single substantial verdict against Intergraph in this area [age discrimination].” On the other hand, “the waiver departing Intergraph employees were asked to sign includes an agreement to waive the right to legal action against the company under a broad range of federal employment and discrimination standards, and an agreement not to ‘disparage, criticize or make derogatory remarks about Intergraph. ...’” Some (anonymous) former employees noted they signed to insure their families had insurance and they received severance and did feel their age was a factor. Interestingly, one of the conversations I had after the reorg announcement at Geospatial World specifically noted the “new blood” in the newly named SG&I division.