The multi-purpose FutureCard will be the version of our
perpetually metamorphosing IC in the near future. With an embedded
smart chip, it can also be used as a passport, store our medical
history, driver's license, act as an ATM card, serve as an
electronic purse and even be used at the National Library...what
ever you do with the card...you will be tracked! It may also be a
tracking device via GPRS (Good or Bad, depending the situation)
However, a recent debate has brought to light the questionable
control on access, potential information abuse and privacy
infringement. As the debate rages on, I can foresee a likely
scenario when ordering pizzas in the near future...
Ah Beng's FutureCard ( Likely Scenerio )
Operator: "Thank you for calling Pizza
Hut Geylang. May I have your..."
Ah Beng: "Haloo, arh...can I orler
huh..."
Operator: "Can I have your Future Card
number first, Sir?"
Ah Beng: "It's arh..., hold on prease,
arh..... S6102-0499-54610FC"
Operator: "OK... you're... Tan Ah Beng
alias 'Or Kwee Tao' and you're calling from 17-D Lorong 14,
Geylang. Your home number is 67828828, your office 6782 8838 and
your mobile is 96828848. Which number are you calling from now
Sir?
Ah Beng: "Home lah! Wah Lan (Bad
word)...How you get all my phone lumbers, arh?"
Operator: "We are connected to the
'FutureCard' system Sir"
Ah Beng: "OK lah, okay lah...Can I orler
your Seafood Pisar..."
Operator : "That's not a good idea
Sir"
Ah Beng: "Why....Cannot
arh?"
Operator: "According to your latest
medical records, you have high blood pressure and even higher
cholesterol level Sir"
Ah Beng: "What?...Wah Lan!....medical
lecords also hab... you lecommend lah?"
Operator: "Try our Low Fat Hokkien Mee
Pizza. You'll like it"
Ah Beng: "Wah...How you know I like
Hokkien mee, arh?"
Operator: "You borrowed a book entitled
"Popular Hokkien Dishes" from the National Library last week
Sir"
Ah Beng: "OK...OK...Buay Ta Han (Can't
stand you)... I give up... Gif me three family sized ones then, how
much arh?
Operator: "That should be enough for
your family of 10, Sir. The total is $45..."
Ah Beng: "I pay by FutureCard...Can or
Not ?"
Operator: "I'm afraid you have to pay
us cash, Sir. Your credit card is over the limit and you're owing
your bank $6720.55- since October last year"
Ah Beng: "Ka Nee Nah!(bad word)...
Everything also know...chiat lat(terrible)!"
Operator: "That's not including the
late payment charges on your housing loan Sir.
Ah Beng: "Okay lah...I run to ATM and
withdraw some cash before you come my house lor"
Operator : "You can't Sir. Based on the
records, you've reached your daily limit on machine withdrawal
today....with the latest withdrawal of 250 for 4D and TOTO at
2.46pm"
Ah Beng: "Never mind just send the
pizzas, I borrow money from my Ah Mah. How long arh?"
Operator: "About 45 minutes Sir, but if
you can't wait you can always come and collect it on your
motorcycle...it'll be ready in 15 mins and you are only 5 mins
away"
Ah Beng: "Where got
transport?"
Operator: "According to the details in
your FutureCard", you own a Honda Scooter, ...registration number
FE 3288..."
Ah Beng: "Ka Nee Nah!"(bad
word)
Operator : "Better watch your language
Sir. Remember on 15th July 1987 you were convicted of using abusive
language on a policeman... ?"
Ah Beng: [Speechless and calms down
after being reminded of the brush with the law]
Operator: "Is there anything else
Sir?"
Ah Beng: "Nothing... by the way... still
got stock of that 3 free bottles of cola as advertised or
not?"
Operator: "We normally would Sir, but
based on your records you're also diabetic....... "
Ah Beng: [Heard cursing away as he slams
down the phone and telling his family he is going to the Hawker
Centre to 'Tar Pow'(Take away)]
