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I was just thinking something along that vein last night: I was watching Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon and early on there's a part where the main character des
by 13of40 8y ago
I was just thinking something along that vein last night: I was watching Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon and early on there's a part where the main character deserts from the British Army by stealing the horse, uniform, and identity papers of an officer. The identity papers were the interesting part, because it was before photographs, so presumably the only biometric information they contained could have been height, hair color, etc. Once we got photographs, they must have had a huge chilling effect on that sort of thing, much like the spectre of facial recognition that we're facing today, but it's one that's already come and gone. (And by "gone" I mean "wedged itself so firmly in the status quo that we never think about it".)
- scelerat 8y ago40-year spoiler: Barry is caught because although his papers pass muster with his Prussian escort, his story does not. After conversation over beers, Captain Potzdorf sniffs out Lyndon's BS stories quite easily. It would be interesting to know what "identity papers" consisted of in 1760. Biometrics are one thing, but they are not the only thing. Funny -- I watched Barry Lyndon last night, too.
- paganel 8y agoFunny thing, I was this close of re-watching Barry Lyndon with my gf last night too, but instead we chose the Incredibles 2, and I also read today this very interesting article from the Economist on the concept of identity: https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2018/12/18/establishing-identity-is-a-vital-risky-and-changing-business https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2018/12/18/esta...
- tomcam 8y agoThat is one wide-ranging, apparently well-researched article. Not a fan of the Economist but I think I need to revisit my prejudice. Thank you.
- a3n 8y agoLois XVI, trying to escape the revolution, was recognized by his image on a form of paper money. In effect, he had sent wanted posters all over the country. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_to_Varennes https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_to_Varennes