Here’s some examples of IT items that could be seen to effect an improvement on one or
another of the four dimensions used to assess the quality of information bases [or predicate
sets, if you will]:
RICHNESS
 Hubble telescope
 TAGGERTRAP: ultrasonic sensors can ‘hear’ spray cans being used by grafitti artists and
pinpoint where they’re being used
 Sex offender registries
Security Check: a system that protects merchants from accepting bad (NSF) checks
 Expedia, Travelocity, etc.: websites that assemble/detail travel alternatives
 NCIC [National Crime Information Center]
 Radio Carbon Dating
 CAT & PET scan, MRI and ultrasound; Laparoscopic surgical tools; EKGs; Imaging Capsules, etc.
Flight Simulators, etc.
Human Genome ‘maps’
 eBay, Amazon.com, etc. [websites that array multiple alternatives]
Walk-Thru Heat Detectors (used in some Asian airports to spot potential SARS carriers)
Smoke detectors and other ultra-sensitive chemical, drug and bomb) sniffing devices [but,
in this respect, don’t forget dogs]
Night Vision and Thermal detection devices
● Mapquest
● RF-based inventory scanning systems (that put a an electronic tag on stock items
that ‘broadcasts’ their current location)
DISCRIMINACY
 the “Black Boxes” aboard aircraft [for attributing ‘causes’ to aviation accidents]
 Computer-based diagnostic systems for newer automobiles
 GPS-based systems, for navigational [PHAROS], military (precision ordinance guidance and
a variety of other applications [e.g., ; John Deere’s Green Star Precision Farming System]
 CAPPS II: assesses passengers as prospective terrorists threats via data APIS data [Advanced Passenger
Information System, the FBI terrorist watch list, credit reports, etc.; sets a red, yellow or green flag
on tickets depending on level of risk to alert airport screeners and flight personnel
(including air marshals)
 Biometeric scanning systems that can uniquely identify individuals by facial geometry,
iris and retinal scanning , hand and fingerprints, voice recognition, etc.
 DNA warehousing / ‘fingerprinting’
Doppler Radar
Certain GIS-type mapping/display technologies for better comprehending interactions/cross-impacts
among ‘complexes’ of variables (especially useful when fed real-time inputs)
Profiling systems
Computer-based systems for forensic (police) artists
Customer information profiling systems (per Ukrops, Harrah’s casinos, banks, etc.)
CrimeStat (a system that collects/distills data on crime incident locations that can then
be used to ‘rationalize’ allocations of law enforcement assets/resources)
Equifax and other credit-reporting systems
Web sites that collect ‘verified’ user reviews of products (Epinions, ZDNet, etc.)
●ITUNES
CREDIBILITY
Consumer Reports and other ostensibly ‘objective’ product assessment agencies
CarFax (tracks history of previously-owned cars to authenticate mileage, record accidents, etc.)
 ZagetSurvey (offers users legitimately objective assessments of restaurants)
 Instant Check—Collection systems (to sequester/guarantee funds for items paid by personal check)
 Interactive Electronic Town Meeting technology (to allow shift from representative to direct democracy)
Check Mark (uses undercover shoppers to provide objective test of retailers’ customer service levels)
the devices now installed in some automobiles that provide clinical data about the car’s actual speed,
brake application and other operating aspects (data can be used for warrantee validation purposes
and to determine driver culpability in accident investigations)
●web cams for input verification, etc.
CURRENCY
POS (Point-of-Sale) terminals
PREDATOR (drones for collecting real-time battlefield data)
Just-in-Time [dynamic] inventory management
Quick-Response accords (per the Virtual Corporation)
Shipment tracking systems (UPS, FEDEX)
Satellite videophones, etc.
DIAD IV: wireless, handheld computers to provide real-time linkups
with/among UPS drivers
VPNs [real-time, reticular Virtual Private Networks]
NCR’s Real Price Electronic Shelf Labeling system [for dynamic pricing]
EDI (Electronic Data Transfer) systems/suites
remote (telemetry and/or video based) symptom reporting/displaying
systems used by MDs, Vets, etc.)
aerial situation-following platforms, e.g., AWACS, hurricane trackers, fish-spotters