RFID System at Stevens Pass

I was at the Stevens Pass website last week looking for information on whether they would be mailing 2008-2009 season passes or if I would need to pick it up when I saw something that has me a bit curious.  They are going to be implementing a resort-wide RFID system.  It will control everything from lift access to rentals, ski school to retail in the lodges.  They are of course saying that it will cut lift lines and improve the skier experience.  I can’t see how an RFID system can increase the uphill capacity of a lift and I don’t think I have ever waited in line just to have my pass checked.  Maybe they mean it will shorten lines by keeping scoff laws out.  I am sure it is a bigger problem than I realize.  I think what has my interest up is the ease with which they will be able to track where I spend my time and money.  With a few strategically placed sensors they will know how long I am in the lodge, if I went into the restaurant, the bar or the can.  They will easily be able to put together a profile of my skiing and purchasing habits.  Is this concerning to anyone else, or should I be getting fitted for my tinfoil hat?  It looks like these systems are more common in Europe.  Has anyone skied at a resort with a full RFID system?  Was it an improvement?  Yes I know that no one tracks me if I earn my turns, which I will do many times this winter, but with my  primary ski partner being 5 years old I will be riding the lifts regularly.

$20 bills? Under store shelves to trigger cameras to take pics of consumers to add to their marketing information...?

Don't know how into this some of you are, but I'm a bit into conspiracy theories and that junk myself. If I remember right, I think they started using UPC's to track products (widespread) in the early 80's - now, it seems to me that George Orwell was a bit like Nostradamus. Big Brother should be a new cuss word.

More on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device)
www.securityfocus.com/columnists/169

It's interesting, isn't it? I'm not sure if it bothers me or not but it does make me wonder what constitutes "privacy" these days. Obviously very little. On the other hand, I can see some rationale for tracking customer movement. After all, most web servers track every page you visit ( I'm not opposed to this ) and many sites engage in far more insidious forms of tracking than simply watching the pages you visit on one specific site ( I am definitely opposed to this ). Unless you pay cash, retailers already know exactly what items you purchase. Even if you pay cash, some retailers are kind enough to give you a valuable customer discount if you provide your telephone number at check out. Your cellular phone can be used to track you with a high degree of accuracy provided you opt-in.

However, all this aside, I am concerned about privacy and freedom of movement. Privacy advocates have said for years that these systems have a chilling effect on personal freedom even if none of these systems are ever used for nefarious purposes ( i.e. to implement a police state ). Isn't Washington State ( where I and many here live ) considering more automatic ticket cameras ... this time on state patrol vehicles? This type of privacy violation ( using a camera to photograph the license plate of a car that may not even be under the control of the owner ) concerns me much more than being tracked at a ski area.

But I suppose being tracked at a ski area should concern me because it's just another example of the slippery slope. It's really sort of creepy when I think about it ... almost like being spied on constantly...monitored at every turn...etc. Maybe they should have an opt-in policy whereby the guest must opt-in for tracking and tracking is by default not engaged. Does anyone here know if this tracking information is associated with a specific guest or is it anonymous? Guess I wouldn't have too much of an issue if it's anonymous.

Alta has the system you describe, although aren't most ski areas at least scanning tickets & passes now?

I think that you can turn it around on them by using it for its intended purpose. Show them that you ski a lot. Show them that you care about good terrain by choosing to ski it. Show them that no matter what kind of lodge they build it will always be about the skiing.

And if you ever have an issue with management, it can never hurt when they pull up your file and see that you have millions of vertical feet on file.

I've used the system at Mt Bachelor several times- it is pretty damn annoying. You need to get everything really well aligned to get it to read- I had to do some fancy yoga moves in a whiteout to get the damn thing to read (the readers are set so even little kids can access them. 6'5", not so much). Also, there is a time out feature- each tag can be scanned only once in a time interval (10? 15? minutes) at the same lift, so if you seriously crank, you can be stuck waiting until it lets you reload. annoying, to say the least.

Does anyone here know if this tracking information is associated with a specific guest or is it anonymous? Guess I wouldn't have too much of an issue if it's anonymous.

For season pass and advantage card holders it is not anonymous. They have your picture on file. If you pay for your single day lift ticket with cash you probably don't have anything about which to worry, but I expect that is a small minority of people.

Also, there is a time out feature- each tag can be scanned only once in a time interval (10? 15? minutes) at the same lift, so if you seriously crank, you can be stuck waiting until it lets you reload. annoying, to say the least.

This could be really annoying. Between sessions with my daughter I will run up and lap 7th Heaven and that only takes a few minutes. Hopefully, Stevens will have a different system with none or a very short time out.

I hope that we get some early snow so that I can get up and try it out.