Jim, here's another idea - home monitoring. The economics of home monitoring vs. incarceration for first time/non-violent offenders is quite compelling and if someone can come up with a secure and reliable device and network I think they could have quite a profitable business. The device worn by the offender communicates with some sort of home "base station" which in turn communicates with the "law enforcement" network - monitors, cell phones, pagers, etc. Even at around the price of an OmniTracs unit of $3000 or $4000, that is still peanuts compared to the expenditure of housing and feeding offenders in jail. And on top of that there are the beneficial social aspects of offenders in a home monitoring program being able to go to work, PAY TAXES, and remain with their families.
Jozef, yeah, alot of the home stuff is available already. But a wireless home network could put control over ALL the stuff in ONE place. And, if we say that down the road we pay only for packets sent, the cost of a few blips to turn something on or off would be fairly cheap, non?
Jim, I can't believe your list isn't longer. The possibilities seem so wide open. It's really have your chip call my chip. Maurice, where are you? You're the thread resident visionary. How about a few more ideas? |
