Future Computational Task
If there's one thing I know, it's that people hate filling out forms. Be it for a sweepstakes, paying a parking ticket, or even landing the dream job of performing rectal exams on roosters, there is no fun in writing down personal information. You know it by heart, and you have to repeat it for every person who wants to know it. It would be so much simpler if that information would just appear.
Now hold that thought for a minute while I mention a current technology known as biometrics. Currently this technology is used for protection purposes, to keep data safe and secure. However, it merely acts as a barrier; once it is opened, information has to be manually written or retrieved. So let's find a way to automate that process.
Back to thought #1. What if we could store our personal information biologically? For instance, what if we decided that we want to simply scan our fingerprints and BAM our personal info appears on the form. No more filling out addresses or phone numbers. Or using some sort of X-ray to scan DNA (though in 25 years this might still be unlikely).
Now you might be asking "Where would my information be retrieved from?" Well, it could either be from a general database that the scanner is connected to, or the information could be encoded within the person, sort of like branding them. Given the precision of lasers these days, in 25 years it may be possible to etch digital information subcutaneously. Or, we could store them on microscopic chips and implant them. But time will tell.
Carrying your personal information in you acts just like an ID badge, except it can carry more than just an ID number and photo. You can store your banking information, any passwords and user account names you might have, or even phone numbers. The data is literally at your fingertips. Another advantage is if the information is stored internally it is harder for it to get stolen or lost (few people have misplaced their thumbs).
So what implications could this have for society? Well, we could easily make everything protected by scanners without inconveniencing anyone since all they have to do is scan his/her thumb/DNA. Hackers would have a hard time stealing information. However, it would be a real pain to update your information or add to it. You would have to get the implant removed and a new one put in or the etching would have to be erased and rewritten. But maybe future technologies will account for this.
