A new way of looking at familiar things

I have just finished reading the book by Neil Gershenfeld entitled "When Things Start to Think" which covers such futuristic things as electronic paper, computers-in-a-shoe and cellos without strings.

What really struck a chord as to how technology could affect us was saved until the final few pages: right now the price of vehicle insurance is based mostly on crude demographics. With cars containing ever-more powerful computing abilities, what if you are a safe driver and you allow your car insurance company to have access to data from your car that confirms that? You could pay less (or more) than the person in the car in front. The choice as to driving style would still be yours, but the premium you pay would be based on you and not the group into which the insurance company placed you. Equally, how about your life assurance premium being based on the information your smart fridge imparts? Eat well, pay less. Again, the choice would remain yours, but the price you pay would be specific to you and you alone. Many potential problems with these scenarios, but thought provoking all the same.

Finally, a quote from the book: "Privacy is not an absolute good; what matters is making a sensible trade-off between private and shared interests."

A new guest

Last year there were baby foxes in the garden; this year a squirrel. Given the name 'Nutty', he is a regular visitor and dines well on peanuts. He is teaching me patience and I hope I am teaching him polite table manners!