Electronic Gags Read Online Free PDF Page A

enthusiasm. “I will install
that feature onto the electronic gag.”
    “How
accurate is your tracking system?” asked John Wallace, the Minister of
Information.
    “Outdoors
where it’s possible to use the hybrid tracking system that combines GPS and
cell tracking, the system can locate the subject with an error margin of less
than a meter.” Professor Reed looked at President Ward and was pleased to see
him nodding his head. “However, GPS doesn’t work indoors because the receiver
needs to be in the line of sight of at least three GPS satellites. When the
subject gets indoors the system resorts to cell tracking, which uses
multilateration of cell towers to determine the location of the cell receivers
in the electronic gags. I urge the government to increase cell towers in some
rural areas to make cell tracking more effective.”
    “What
will the state do when a citizen sabotages the electronic gag and claims it
died on its own?” Campbell said, thinking he had finally got the professor.
    Reed
suppressed a smile. He had anticipated the question. “I suggest that the state
gives citizens electronic gags for free and make each citizen liable for the
safety and maintenance of his gag. When a gag breaks down, the state will
replace it at the citizen’s cost. Since we shall make electronic gags explode
when people tamper with their circuits, citizens won’t take the risk.”
    “What
about battery?” asked Retired General Steven Sanders, the Minister of Defense.
“How long does the battery last and what happens when it goes flat?”
    “Good
question, general,” Professor Reed said. “The battery lasts for at least four
days and it will be the duty of citizens to make sure that the batteries of
their electronic gags have power. We will issue every citizen with a charger.
When the battery is about to go flat, the electronic gag administers electric shocks
into the subject every fifteen seconds to remind him to charge the battery. Ten
minutes before the battery goes flat, the electronic gag sends a continuous
shock into the subject. When the battery goes flat, the server makes an alarm,
giving the CIB the subject’s last known location.”
    “When
the battery goes flat, the device must explode,” Senior Minister Christopher Ward
said, warming to Professor Reed’s idea.
    “We
can arrange that, senior minister,” Reed said.
    “Arrange
it,” Brandon Ward said. “The device must explode when the battery goes flat.
That will be good punishment for those who fail to charge their batteries.”
    “Consider
it done, Your Excellence. The electronic gag has a life span of about ten
years. Its battery has a lifespan of four years. We will give citizens spare
batteries.”
    “How
will they change the batteries?” Perry, the deputy Minister of Natural
Resources asked. “Won’t the device explode when a citizen removes the battery?”
    “It
won’t,” Reed assured. “The system has a backup battery that lasts for twenty
minutes.” The professor paused, joy blazing in his heart as he looked at Collins
and Campbell who were hanging their heads in defeat. “The system also has
geographical fencing.”
    “Patriot
Reed,” growled the supreme leader, “spare us the technical jargon. What the
hell is geographical fencing?”
    “Forgive
me, Your Excellence.” He cleared his throat. “We mark a virtual boundary over a
satellite map. When a subject crosses this boundary, his electronic gag shocks
him and an alert is sent to security agents guarding the boundary. We can set
virtual boundaries round Your Excellence’s residence, round army barracks and Cabinet
House. We can also set a geofence at the country’s borders.”
    “Wonderful!”
enthused Vice President Butler. “Electronic gags will improve the country’s
security.”
    “Thank
you Patriot Vice President,” Reed said. “Fifty meters before a subject crosses
a virtual boundary, he receives warnings and electric shocks. If he crosses the
boundary, he