I have my own commentary about "why this is not the rise of the panopticon".

It's important to keep in mind that my wearable computer can only record what I am actually hearing and seeing.

This is an important distinction from hidden (or "security") cameras - which are pervasive.

With so many cameras around, you can't really tell if you are being observed/recorded or not at any given time or place. This is literally true in some urban centres.

Whereas even if everyone had a camera in their glasses, you could still have privacy simply by going somewhere and glancing around to see if there are any other people present and directing their attention at you. If there are not, then you are not being observed or recorded.

It's a different story with the hidden and semi-hidden "security" cameras everywhere. Because of them, you can never really tell whether or not you are being recorded or observed by persons unknown. That is the panopticon.

Posted by Don at November 14, 2003 03:38 AM