To be or not to be

The last lecture the topic of identity was dicussed. The guest speaker we had pointed out really interesting methods that I have never thought about as "identity" such as the smarttrip card, which I own as a commuter in DC. He also spoke about the future of license in which a digital chip would carry an enormous amount of personal information.

Relating to this would be a chip that is implanted in somone's hand or wrist. If you are a fan of the show "Lost" (ABC) chips implants enabled certain members access to a facility base on a wave of the hand. I think that chip implants can be a sucessful mode of identification but the issue of who can have access to a reader (of the chip) may arise.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/technology/05verichip.html?ex=1328331600&en=55afb7f2ba98da7e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Technology have made this possible even in pets. Dogs and cats can now have also chip implants on neck. Many pounds asnd animal shelters are equipt to read the chip with a scanner. This is helpful in cases where a dog may get loose and get lost. Yesterday, I saw a dog that ran away when a door was open at a gas station. The dog ran toward the highway. This even was not only dangerous but very traumatizing for the family of the dog. I think chip implants for animals is ok because they cannot talk for themselves. However, this can also be applied to patients of mental institution or even prisoners. There will always be an ethical issue when it comes to gray issue like this.