AT&T gets into the kid-tracking game

While it probably won't be peddling this new tech in California, there's still a whole world of youngsters out there for AT&T to track with its new RFID- and GPS-based mobile resource management systems, which the company has designed specifically with school districts in mind. The so-called MRM platform allows administrators to follow Junior's progress from the minute he steps on the bus in the morning, thanks to GPS-equipped transmitters that log location, speed, and condition and can even "report on events within vehicles." Once he gets to class, the school's WiFi backbone can pinpoint him anywhere on campus courtesy of that mandatory RFID badge he's wearing, which AT&T touts as an efficient solution for daily attendance tracking. That is, until teachers start relying on this system without question, and classes eventually thin out to one student in the back row with a pocket full of cash and a backpack full of IDs.

[Brian @ Dec 12th 2007 10:00AM]

Ah, this way they'll be able to tell who's late for the Two Minutes Hate.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

[Herman Manfred @ Dec 12th 2007 10:02AM]

And you thought "1984" was a story about the Government!

Mwhaaaaa.

[Wwhat @ Dec 12th 2007 10:27AM]

Well hasn't it be shown that the NSA and AT&T are really tight?

[sane @ Dec 12th 2007 11:55AM]

and you thought corporations didn't already govern.

[Jigar @ Dec 12th 2007 10:33AM]

It starts with students. I think that very same generation that gets RFID badges and tracked everywhere in school will get used to the idea of wearing RFID badges at work and being tracked by their employer. I think this is a slippery slope downward.

[Rob K @ Dec 12th 2007 12:15PM]

Will gravity let a slippery slope go anywhere but downward?

[Ed @ Dec 12th 2007 2:46PM]

First they're tracking our kids, then they're enslaving us all... these guys are the new robots.

[Kizorblade @ Dec 12th 2007 10:34AM]

That's a scary picture... And also... What on earth would you do? It's not like they're angry for their two minutes yet. They're just... Staring at something

[gt2378b @ Dec 12th 2007 2:53PM]

It's because they don't need no education.

[freakmarket @ Dec 12th 2007 10:34AM]

I think George Carlin said it best .... "... hey parents ... you want to help your kids? ... leave them the f*** alone!"

Overprotective parents drive me insane. If you make all your choices for your kids they won't learn to do it for themselves. Hindering the natural development, sexuality, and personal growth leads to problem down the line ... parents need to all take a basic psychology class.

Tracking a 10-13 y/o ... fine ... i can see that.

It's bad enough the MAN is tracking us ... we don't need to track each other too.

[Clay Adams @ Dec 12th 2007 10:38AM]

Yes, that's a scary picture... makes me think of insane rock stars building walls. We don't need no education ... we don't need no thought control!!

Great pic, Engadget. Representing !!

[superfresh @ Dec 12th 2007 10:49AM]

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!

[thomas @ Dec 12th 2007 11:07AM]

That's a scary picture... And also... What on earth would you do? It's not like they're angry for their two minutes yet. They're just... Staring at something

[Rususeruru @ Dec 12th 2007 11:18AM]

"Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been."

I know wrong album, but appropriate line.

[Brent @ Dec 12th 2007 1:29PM]

I hit the read link hoping that CNN had used the same picture. No such luck. What I did find telling is that it's filed under money, not regular news, privacy, or evil monopolistic giants trying to force your kids down, which is an actual CNN category.

[Robert @ Dec 12th 2007 2:06PM]

"That is, until teachers start relying on this system without question, and classes eventually thin out to one student in the back row with a pocket full of cash and a backpack full of IDs."

That's when phase 2 kicks in; implantable RFID tags (and coming soon GPS units). After all how else can they keep the children "safe".

[Denise @ Dec 12th 2007 5:15PM]

I think this is great. It will help save the lives of many children.

[Dull @ Dec 12th 2007 8:34PM]

So the Super Bowl add. ends something like this...

Soon AT&T will release MRM platform. And you see why 2008 will be just like "1984".
p.s. exclusively on the AT&T's network the new iPhone.