New Jersey college, Montclair, requires all its students to carry a college supplied, GPS cellphone. Forcing the students to buy one brand (Rave Wireless), and then charging them for a rip-off plan (unlimited SMS, free calls after 7PM but only 50 minutes per month talktime for $210 per semester) may be the worst part of this: The GPS is available, but off by default.
Currently, the tracking remains inactive until switched on, either as a timer or as an emergency call. The timer will give twenty minutes before calling campus police with the coordinates of the owner, and the emergency alarm asks for immediate help.
Apparently inspired by the Virginia Tech killings, the scheme is currently useless. According to AP, the timers are used between five and ten times a week in a school of 13,000 pupils. And every time the alarms have sounded (around once a month), guess what? That's right, a false alarm.
Over-reliance on technology for safety can cause lapses in judgement, as people who believe they have protection take more risks. It really looks very similar to the tactics of the TSA. Everyone say with me "Security Theater".
