Privacy in the Woods?

Rorschach1 asks: "I work with a local Search and Rescue team, and for some time I've been thinking about the possibility of installing sensors at a few critical trail junctions in the local back country. The sensors would detect passing hikers and report timestamps to an Internet gateway in near real-time. When a hiker goes missing, this information could be very valuable in determining where search efforts should be directed. However, I've spent enough time on Slashdot to know that whenever you start monitoring or tracking people and their activities, someone's going to get upset. So I'd like to hear from the tinfoil hat brigade - what are your objections to such a system, and how might your concerns be addressed?"

Comments

It's a good idea

[Rylfaeth]

2 days ago this redneck I know flipped his quad over in a creek and tore his ear off. He called a friend's mom and cussed her out when she didn't believe he was hurt. It took a little while to find out where he was. If only he had had sensors in the trees to track his flowing mullet...

-Rylfaeth

Simpler, quicker, and exists already

[Grax]

Make sure the area has good cell phone coverage. Require all missing hikers to carry a cell phone.

Only me

[Dawang]

I'll be fine with it as long as it only counts me, and not the body I'm carrying through the woods.

attn echelon and other busybodies: that was a joke.

Re:a thought

[lewp]

Unfortunately, this only works until grizzly bears learn to hit the "I'm OK" button.