Re: New hi-tech dog tags use encryption?... [CNN]

[Rabid Wombat <wombat@mcfeely.bsfs.org>]

On Sat, 27 Dec 1997, Jim Choate wrote:

> Forwarded message:
> 
> >                     PENTAGON INTRODUCING HIGH-TECH DOG TAGS

> 
> >      "We have to be very concerned about how we protect the information
> >      -- in who's hands would it be, should it be encrypted, could the
> >      encryption be broken, what would happen if it ended up in the wrong
> >      hands," says Defense Secretary William Cohen.
> 
> [text deleted]
> 
> >      If issues of cost and privacy can be solved, the old metal dog tags
> >      seem certain to become just another piece of military history.
> 

I doubt the old metal ones will go away - smartcards have an annoying 
tendancy to melt when your aircraft suffers traumatic deceleration.

Two competing cards were demo'd at JWID a few years back, so this isn't a 
new concept. One way to keep them from losing your vacination records ...

-r.w.