On Sat, 27 Dec 1997, Jim Choate wrote:
Forwarded message:
PENTAGON INTRODUCING HIGH-TECH DOG TAGS
"We have to be very concerned about how we protect the information -- in who's hands would it be, should it be encrypted, could the encryption be broken, what would happen if it ended up in the wrong hands," says Defense Secretary William Cohen.
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If issues of cost and privacy can be solved, the old metal dog tags seem certain to become just another piece of military history.
I doubt the old metal ones will go away - smartcards have an annoying tendancy to melt when your aircraft suffers traumatic deceleration. Two competing cards were demo'd at JWID a few years back, so this isn't a new concept. One way to keep them from losing your vacination records ... -r.w.