Arphid Cloners In Little Brother, Marcus mentions the use of arphid cloners many times. With the help of the Geek Dictionary, I found that arphid cloner is another name for radio frequency ID tags (RFID) (Alieeta). RFID "RFID tagging is an ID system that uses small radio frequency identification devices for identification and tracking purposes. An RFID tagging system includes the tag itself, a read/write device, and a host system application for data collection, processing, and transmission" (Rouse). It is essentially a tracking device that serves a multitude of purposes. Some of these purposes include:

1. id cards
2. library books
3. supply chain management to manage item locations during shipment (includes tracking consumer products in retail and grocery stores)
4. implanted into animals to track them over years (zoologists)

And the list goes on. RFID essentially tags a person with a unique serial number and transmits that data via radio waves where someone with the intention to do so, can intercept these signals and learn information about your location.

How it Works

RFID is composed of three main parts:

• antenna that scans
• transceiver that acts as a decoder of the information it receives
• transponder -- the tag

The antennas put out a short radio signal. This radiation is a form of communication with the transponder and provides the same tag with energy to communicate. This allows the RFID to be active for a long time since it powers itself without the use of batteries. This is a great expansive article on how RFID works and includes its history: [http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/rfid.htm] This is a great video about RFID tags: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNPDgudPmXE

Sources: http://geekdictionary.computing.net/define/arphid http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Technology-Article.asp?ArtNum=2 http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/RFID-tagging

General Information A gait recognition camera is essentially a biometric technology that allows a camera to identify people by the way they walk. This is mentioned in the book when Marcus addresses his hatred for this mechanism that is installed at his school to prevent students from leaving the school without permission. However, as a solution, Marcus discovers new ways to trick this technology to show that there are always flaws to these intense surveillance methods. The theme of Marcus figuring out ways of counter surveillance is very prominent throughout the book.

Digging Deeper This is a good explanation of gait-recognition technology by a company, GSI, that is an established company in the security sector: http://globalseci.com/?page_id=44

1. This is a new emerging technology that has not been fully developed yet

2. This may be used for security but can prove to help in other fields such as medicine by using its ability to detect movement to identify joint diseases early on.

   Two Main Types of Gait Recognition a) "gait recognition based on the automatic analysis of video imagery"

       - Intricate joint movement analysis constitutes 
       this video imagery
   

   b) "uses a radar system much like that used by police officers to identify speeding cars"

      - records a "cycle" composed of a combination 
      of moving body parts and compares that cycle 
      to other samples 
   

Gait Recognition in Action This is a gif of gait recognition technology that can put a lot of this information in context: http://www.bodybagcatholic.com/images/g/gait%20recognition%20ani.gif