Spring Break
Ocean City's plan will eliminate privacy
By: Dennis Mongello
Issue date: 8/10/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 8/10/07 at 3:40 AM EST
Last update: 8/10/07 at 3:39 AM EST
Originally published: 8/10/07 at 3:40 AM EST
Last update: 8/10/07 at 3:39 AM EST
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Summer is a time for fun in the sun, and most importantly going to the beach.
It's the best way to become one with nature. You don't have to get your hands too dirty like with camping, and you can always cool off in the water if it gets too hot. The big thing here is to relax and forget about our "always connected" lifestyles.
For better and worse, Ocean City, N.J. is going to change that as it plans to spend $3 million ramping up technology services to its citizens and tourists.
The first part of the plan includes citywide wireless access, free for residents and $6 per day for the rest of us. That's actually a good idea. The $6 is probably a lot cheaper than any hotel rate even if every little hotel, motel and time-share offers Internet access.
So, it is good for people spending a week or weekend there who just want to check their e-mail or read up on the news, or even visit www.thetriangle.org a few times while they are at the shore. That's a win for Ocean City. Give people what they want and make it affordable.
On the other hand, another part of this money is going towards implementing RFID beach tags. For those of you who have never been to the public beach at Ocean City or a few other shore points, you have to buy a tag that allows you to go to the beach. You can buy a day tag, week tag or summer tag. Most people just pin the tags right onto their beach chairs. After all, if they are going to the beach, then they are definitely bringing a beach chair.
The city has their beach patrol walk along the beach and check for tags at random times throughout the day. Nine times out of ten, you won't even see anyone checking for tags when you are on the beach. The tenth time though, getting out of paying the fee is as easy as getting up and going for a walk, going into the ocean, or telling the beach patrol that you just left the tag on your other chair or something. Ocean City thinks that using the RFID tags will help the beach patrol collect on these "lost sales."
It's the best way to become one with nature. You don't have to get your hands too dirty like with camping, and you can always cool off in the water if it gets too hot. The big thing here is to relax and forget about our "always connected" lifestyles.
For better and worse, Ocean City, N.J. is going to change that as it plans to spend $3 million ramping up technology services to its citizens and tourists.
The first part of the plan includes citywide wireless access, free for residents and $6 per day for the rest of us. That's actually a good idea. The $6 is probably a lot cheaper than any hotel rate even if every little hotel, motel and time-share offers Internet access.
So, it is good for people spending a week or weekend there who just want to check their e-mail or read up on the news, or even visit www.thetriangle.org a few times while they are at the shore. That's a win for Ocean City. Give people what they want and make it affordable.
On the other hand, another part of this money is going towards implementing RFID beach tags. For those of you who have never been to the public beach at Ocean City or a few other shore points, you have to buy a tag that allows you to go to the beach. You can buy a day tag, week tag or summer tag. Most people just pin the tags right onto their beach chairs. After all, if they are going to the beach, then they are definitely bringing a beach chair.
The city has their beach patrol walk along the beach and check for tags at random times throughout the day. Nine times out of ten, you won't even see anyone checking for tags when you are on the beach. The tenth time though, getting out of paying the fee is as easy as getting up and going for a walk, going into the ocean, or telling the beach patrol that you just left the tag on your other chair or something. Ocean City thinks that using the RFID tags will help the beach patrol collect on these "lost sales."
