What more can you do with it?

The VeriChip can be used for many applications than just verifying medical records. In this fast changing world everything is technology enhanced, and places that spell technology also invite unethical and illegal activities such as counterfeiting, identity theft, unauthorized access, etc. The VeriChip can be used for personal identity verification so chip could contain your biometric information and scanners would read your chip and grant access to a special area that only you are supposed to access. Other applications could include but are not limited to controlling access to Intellectual Property, managing and tracking physical and intellectual assets, providing physical access to control solutions, enabling innovative time and attendance systems, providing automated data collection and monitoring platforms and much more. The chip with GPS (Global Positioning System) capabilities could also be implanted into children, so that it becomes easier for Police Department to trace them out, in events of kidnapping.

VeriChip could also be used to find lost pets or keep track of endangered wildlife, as well as find lost or stolen property. It could also be used as a means for security such as, airport security, authorization for access to government buildings, laboratories, correctional facilities and like. Convicted criminals or possible terrorists could also be tracked with this technology and prevent future attacks on time.

Is anything wrong with it?

While VeriChip seems to have no adverse side effects to its wearer, there are quite a few concerns over its usage pattern. One of biggest disadvantages is invasion of privacy of user. People wouldnt really like scanners scanning them for personal information wherever they go or satellites tracking them across globe. One of major concerns could be about third parties gaining information on Internet through either hacking or by selling sensitive data to unknown people. You might use these chips to safeguard your children from kidnappers, but there are possibilities of these chips being surgically removed and being disabled by kidnappers. There is also possibilitiy that convicted criminals could remove chips so authorities would be unable to track them. Most people fear an invasion of privacy as greatest fault of implanting microchips. A recent CNN poll said that about 76% of Americans said they would not want a device like VeriChip implanted on their children, while 24% suggested they would.

While amount of securities this chip might offer is overwhelming, at same time device seems weighed down by numerous concerns including invasion of privacy. Only time will tell whether this invention takes off or just bites dust.

Chris N. Fernando is a Sr. Staff Writer with Magazine 360 - an IT magazine published by ITNation, Mumbai (India). He has also worked as Technical Editor with Peer Technical Services and as Reporter for PCQuest and Living Digital magazines. He also writes for The Cheers.com.

Want to buy it?

Novinit hasnt yet appointed any dealers for Jackito, though as of now they plan to make all transactions through their website. The Jackito is available for sale on www.jackito.com at a list price of 600. Novinit says that if you are interested in buying product, you will have to order it online through their website by remitting $100 and then wait for about 90 days for product to be delivered to you. However, you can choose screen type (color or monochrome), user interface, removable front cover and changeable stick-on strips of your choice. The Jackito is entirely customizable you can choose between add-ons like internal MP3 player, FM radio, microphone, headset, Bluetooth, solar battery charger and much more at an extra cost. According to Arnaud, they will target at "early adopters" for this product, but product is destined for everybody because product has all facilities that we lack as human beings gigantic memory, vast capabilities for computation, learning, games and communications.

TDAs way to go (or is it not?)

The development of TDA doesnt stop here in fact this is just beginning. Novinit expects that by April 2005 it will be able to make available innovative accessories for TDA you will be able to choose from WiFi modules, GPS, digital camera (CMOS based), micro-printer, micro-scanner, barcode reader, smart-card reader, TV module and much more. Though TDA seems to be an in thing with all features it talks about, there are certain things that work against very concept of digital assistant. The Jackito doesnt come with character recognition software built-in. It means that you will have to type through virtual keyboard on TDAs screen if you want to enter a few important data. This is far more tedious than just scribbling a few notes on a PDA screen with stylus and leaving conversion part to handwriting recognition software. The TDA runs on an operating system called ActilOS, which no one has even heard of before. This means that there wont be any third party applications for TDA, at least immediately. Moreover product is similar to a PDA its just that TDA can be used with fingers / thumbs and supports landscape orientation too.

Though TDA seems promising enough, time will only tell whether it remains stable in market. So if you want to experience magic of TDA, logon to Jackito's website and click on buy!

Chris N. Fernando is a Sr. Staff Writer with Magazine 360 - an IT magazine published by ITNation, Mumbai (India). He has also worked as Technical Editor with Peer Technical Services and as Reporter for PCQuest and Living Digital magazines. He also writes for The Cheers.com.