Spy in the sky

[Wizzo]

It may not be long before our cars are electronically tagged and can be spied on by satellites which are circling the earth.

That is according to a team of experts who have been looking at controversial government plans to use spy-in-the-sky technology to implement road charges.

Proposals have been put forward that would see static cameras capturing licence plate numbers, electronic tags being read as drivers pass between specific zones and satellites used to trace our movements.

According to Phil Blythe, professor of Intelligent Transport Systems at Newcastle University, we could see the introduction of the new technology within a decade.

"You will need 10 years at a minimum for a national rollout," he told reporters. "I do not see many other options available to us to manage our transport system."

Professor Blythe also points out that much of the technology is already available and has been successfully tested in other countries.

Although he supports the idea of bringing in the systems mentioned, the professor says drivers need incentives before they are happy to be so closely monitored.

"How do you encourage people to fit an on-board unit to their car?" he said. "You have to juggle the cost, the charges and the penalties and offer some carrots as well as sticks."

He added that by only making car manufacturers fit the devices in new models would ensure that the spread of the technology would be slow.

[cosworth151]

On behalf of my freedom-loving IT colleges everywhere, we look forward to hacking it.