RFID technology and USB flash drives carried the hope that information such as our medical histories, drug allergies, and prescription medications could be accessed in an instant in a medical emergency, either via a USB drive attached to a keychain or an RFID chip in a driver's license or even implanted in our bodies. Privacy concerns have so far squashed the idea, but that hasn't stopped products like the Zaptag from making waves.

For about £39.99 (approximately $80) you can order the Zaptag, a waterproof USB flash drive that can be configured to store critical information such as your name, blood type, insurance information, next-of-kin, and other important notes like drug allergies or a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. The owner can plug the Zaptag into their computer, and the built-in software allows them to make any notes they need. Since the drive is USB, it can be plugged into any PC with a USB port during an emergency, and the information will be instantly displayed. Future versions of the Zaptag are planned that will have more storage and allow the owner to store their entire medical history or drug prescriptions, so EMTs and paramedics don't use conflicting drugs during emergency treatment.

Having critical information can mean the difference between life and death in a life-threatening situation. While products like the Zaptag hold promise for making medical information portable and easily accessible for first responders, several privacy questions remain unanswered. Will the data be encrypted, for example, or how will access to the data be restricted only to first responders? What do you do if you lose the Zaptag? There are no real answers yet. Even so, devices like the Zaptag remind us of how important our privacy is, and force us to debate whether the life-saving potential of a device like the Zaptag outweighs the lack of privacy involved. [ via ShinyShiny ]