China’s ‘Intelligent Uniforms’ Track Students’ Movements And Whereabouts

Over 10 schools in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are going high tech when it comes to monitoring students’ turnout and whereabouts.

These ‘intelligent uniforms’, made by Guizhou Guanyu Technology Company, record reliable data on students’ entries into and exits from their respective school compounds, before automatically sending this information to parents and teachers.

If students exit the school premises without permission, the wearer’s ‘intelligent uniform’ will activate an automatic voice alarm. Facial recognition technology installed into the doors at schools thwart students from swapping their uniforms, lest they want another alarm to get activated.

Over 800 pupils at the No 11 School of Renhuai in Guizhou Province, for example, have been using the ‘intelligent uniforms’ since fall of 2016. According to its principal Lin Zongwu, the apparel has significantly helped to boost attendance rates.

Yuan Bichang, the company’s project manager, told China’s Global Times that two chips are input into the shoulders of each uniform, which can withstand up to 500 washes and temperatures up to 150°C.

While these ‘intelligent uniforms’ help deter students from playing truant, there have been concerns about invasion of privacy since the garbs can track students even during off-school hours. Lin affirms that the institute has chosen not to access the location of students during these times.

Elsewhere in China, artificial intelligence news anchors have officially debuted, while its Black Mirror-like social credit system continues to expand.

#CyberpunkisNow Schools in China have begun enforcing ‘smart uniforms’ made by Guizhou Guanyu Technology (image is theirs) with features including GPS tracking system to monitor students. Facial recognition used to ensure that each uniform is worn by its rightful owner. pic.twitter.com/oZ3DhMI01T

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