Job Discussion Forums

[vanVlaanderen]

Retinal scans using low-intensity laser beams have been required by KSA since last December, in order to MAP the veins and arteries in the retina and optic nerves of human beings' eyes.

This is supposedly more fool-proof than fingerprinting.

Iris scans may also be supplemental to retinal scans, in cases where more exact ID is necessary.

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS PRESENTS RISK TO THE EYES?

[eclectic]

I believe it does, minimally. Retinal scans are really photonic mappings of the veins and arteries and capillaries that lace the retina and optic nerves. A low-intensity bombardment of these delicate things by streams of photons actually penetrates into their surfaces to provide a detailed map of each vein's meandering pathway.

This slight penetration by a laser can in rare cases cause hemhorraging or other damage. Some people bleed easier than others, as in bloody noses, etc. There could be a slight risk of this happening, and it wouldnt be noticed for some time as the bleeding would be ever-so-slight.

The laser must be trained, aimed, and operated at the right wavelength also, or it could cause damage. You would want the bozo performing this ridiculous Big Brother Stunt to have atleast a high school diploma, let's say.

[desultude]

I don't know about damage to the eyes, but I did some research, and some employers in the Kingdom are using Oracle, the California corporation that specializes in personal information collection and coordination, to handle their HR data collection.

This is a bit unsettling, as Oracle is setting up such data collection systems around the world and coordinating them. It is not hard to anticipate that such personal biometric data will be available to most anyone willing to pay the price.

Kiss personal privacy good-bye. And you won't get out of the Kingdom until you do.

[ganesh77]

IMHO if your eyes are in good shape then the scanner isn't good to damage them. If you have some problem with your eyes, the scanner could exacerbate that problem. At any rate, what the scanner doesn't wreck havoc on the sand particles in the air here will. Isn't your vision a small price to pay to get into the Kingdom?

[eclectic]

Problem here is, if the CDC and FDA both advise strongly against getting "any live vaccine whatsoever" within a 30 day period of having received the Yellow shots (and there are a series of boosters one must get in order for the Yellow shot to work right, needing to be received on a strict time-table, like 1 booster every 14 days), we're now talking about getting a Yellow AND a Meningitis vaccine, and to avoid risk, these 2 properly done with boosters for Yellow would require atleast 60-70 days, safely speaking.

I think if the Retinal scan is done within those 70 days, the optic nerve merges with the retina in a Big Brother Tribute to Invasion of Privacy dogma, thereby fusing the nano-chip brain implant to the frontal lobes of their brains. Even worse, the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine will shortly be a requirement.

Then the CELTA and TESOL are worth nothing. Only the TEFL will count.

[bacasper]

[desultude]

[eclectic]

correct. and WOW, enter OR LEAVE???!!! You'd think entering with the retinal zapper would be enough.

[desultude]

[Cleopatra]

So far as I know, the requirement for fingerprints and retinal scans only apply to men. This is mainly because gender segregation requires that seperate faciilities be set up for women, and thus far they have not been.

[Mia Xanthi]

I was fingerprinted and scanned in the EP in a facility that accommodated both men and women. All men and women at PMU were required to have fingerprinting done, and many of the children - even though PMU didn't realize it had to be done until well after the deadline. Another fine performance by Government Relations!

[eclectic]

Well, in all fairness to KSA (I say "fairness" for politeness' sake) SOuth Korea has only recently (2008) required all ESL teachers to have:

1. a chest x-ray
2. a complete physical exam INSIDE Korea (results from your home country do not count)
3. a blood test for HIV and I believe hepatits.

Currently a US teacher near Seoul is taking that ruling to a KOrean court and challenging it as being racist and discriminatory and a violation of privacy.

So if a rather secular country (I say "secular" rather than "godless" for politeness' sake) is that uptight, imagine what a Theocracy will require.

[eclectic]

rigel, where are you on this? Have you just gelled-ou tin Pnomh Penh, then? Or is that 1 too mamy Hs?