The Internet of Things makes it possible to track the whereabouts of just about anything, from employees on the job site to the location of a blood pressure monitor. However, facility managers should be aware that for every innovative solution, there is someone out there MacGyvering a workaround.
A man in Australia was fired after his employer discovered he was obscuring his location information by storing his PDA in an empty chip bag so he could go play golf while he should have been at work, according to an article in The Telegraph. The chip bag worked as a Faraday cage, an enclosure which blocks electromagnetic fields. Often, Faraday cages are discussed as ways to protect sensitive electronic devices from harmful electromagnetic fields, but they also work at preventing waves from broadcasting.
One important note to anyone who still thinks this may be a good idea: The blocking effect varies based on the wave form, and in the case of a tracking device, how far away the transmitting device is from a receiver. So, the performance of your chip bag may vary.
This Quick Read was submitted by Naomi Millán, senior editor, Building Operating Management, who would like to point out that, though she is mostly not a prepper, emergency preparedness is the smartest thing going. Wireless systems and security are also essential.
