Hey, There's an App for That!

How would you feel if your bank account was as public as your Facebook page? Well, now theres an iPhone app called Blaze Mobile that allow its users to pay for things by swiping their phone past a sensor. It works like a debit card. The phone owner puts a certain amount of money on their phone card and uses it when ever he/she likes. The only problem with this is that everytime someone makes a purchase the details of the purchase are posted on facebook or which ever social network the user decides to use. Does anyone, other than me, see a problem with this? This not only puts personal bank information on the internet, but allows anyone to find you no matter where you are which poses a huge safety issue.

The companies that support this type of payment say that it will decrease the amount of payments made in cash so that people can get through lines faster. I personally think that there a some things that should stay private either because they are personal or because no one cares about. For example, who cares that you just bought a 12 pack of Diet Coke? As far as the lines going faster, I feel that life is too fast-paced as is. I think that our society would benefit greately if we all just took life a little bit slower and enjoyed every day as much as we can instead of always planning every little detail ahead of time.

Another aspect of this technology that bothers me is that as more information is put on the internet it is much easier for companies and the government to have complete control over every aspect of our lives. This idea of digital information leading to complete government control reminds me of Neuromancer. I feel that the technology that society is creating today is going to create a future similar to that of Neuromancer.