Life After 50 column on WMKVFM.org ON INTERNET

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Added: Fri. Nov 27, 2009 10:49am
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WMKV 89.3 FM

AND WMKVFM.ORG ON THE INTERNET “LIFE AFTER 50” COL FOR

NOV.23-09 ON AIR

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         ANYONE DECADES AGO WHO IN AN ENGLISH CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE READ IN A NOVEL ABOUT THE FUTURE WHERE BIG BROTHER WOULD PREVAIL, WATCHING US  24/7, KNOWS NOW IT NO LONGER IS FICTION. IT IS FACT.

PRACTICALLY ON EVERY AMERICAN STREET CORNER AND IN ALL CITIES THERE ARE CAMERAS MONITORING OUR BEHAVIOR WALKING AND DRIVING.

INSIDE BANKS THERE ARE CAMERAS. EVEN IN WORKOUT GYMS THRE ARE CAMERA WATCHING YOU WORKOUT. YES, IN MINE, TOO. I WAS STARTLED WHEN I GOT ON A TREADMILL THE OTHER DAY AND LOOKED UP TO SEE, YES, A NEW CAMERA.

 I GUESS THE CAMERA WAS THERE TO SEE IF I’D MAKE IT THROUGH THE ENTIRE WORKOUT. AND IF NOT, THE CAMERA WOULD ALERT SOMEONE OF MY STRESS.

BUT EVEN IF YOU FIND THESE MASSIVE NUMBER OF DEVICES INVASIVE OF OUR PRIVACY, YOU MUST ALSO ADMIT SOMETIMES TRACKING DEVISES CAN SERVE A GOOD PURPOSE.

         FOR FAMILIES WITH LOVED ONES WHO HAVE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, A TRACKING DEVICE COULD SAVE A LIFE.

 THERE IS A NEW COMFORT ZONE PROGRAM WITH A WEB- BASED MAPPING SERIVCE THAT WORKS WITH MULTIPLE BRANDS OF TRACKING TRANSMITTERS TO KEEP AT EYE ON WANDERING ALZHIEMER VICTIMS.

STATISTICS SAY THAT AT SOME POINT NEARLY 60 PERCENT OF ALZHEIMER PATIENTS WILL BEGIN WHAT IS CALLED WANDERING.

         NOW MANY STATES ARE ADOPTING “SILVER ALERTS” PROGRAMS THAT NOTIFY THE PUBLIC WHEN A COGNITIVELY- IMPARED ADULT WANDERS OFF. THIS IS MODELED AFTER OUR AMBER ALERTS FOR MISSING CHLDREN.

SOME FAMILIES TAKE THIS TRACKING A STEP FURTHER AND OPT FOR EVEN HIGHER TECH OPTIONS-GPS TECHNOLOGY.

WITH COMFORT ZONE TECHNOLOGY THE ALZHEIMER VICTIM WEARS A POCKET SIZE TRANMITTER OR HARDER TO REMOVE WRISTWATCH. FAMILIES CAN CHECK AT ANY TIME WHERE DAD OR MOM IS AT ANY TIME, TRACKING MOVEMENTS EVERY 2 MINUTES.

MONTHLY MONITORING PLANS VARY IN PRICE FROM $43 TO $80.

FAMILIES POINT OUT THAT KIND OF TRACKING IS FAR CHEAPER THAN ALZHEIMER DAY PROGRAMS FOR SUCH VICTIMS.

         BUT HOW FAR WILL THIS NEW TRACKING TECHNOLOGY GO? ALREADY LAW ENFORCEMENT PUTS TRACKING DEVICES ON SOME PRISONERS OUT ON BAIL.

WHO KNOWS WHEN NEXT PERHAPS A SUSPICIOUS MARRIAGE PARTNER MIGHT SECRETLY CLIP SUCH A DEVICE INTO THE OTHER SPOUSE’S PEN OR WRIST WATCH TO MONITOR THEIR MOVEMENTS?

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS. THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY, DEPENDING ON WHO IS USING IT AND WHY.  GUNS CAN CAPTURE CIRIMNALS BUT THEY ALSO CAN HURT INNOCENT PEOPLE.

BUT AS FOR TRACKING DEVICE USE, WELL, BIG BROTHER IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN AMERICA, EVERYWHERE YOU ARE.

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REACH ME MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS: AJHORNBAKER@YAHOO.COM. (REPEAT). OR LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR ME AT THE CINCINNATI WMKV STUDIOS, 782-2427.  FOR WMKV, THIS IS

ALICE HORNBAKER, FOR THE “LIFE AFTER 50” COLUMN, ON AND 89.3 FM PUBLIC RADIO.