anti-prose. random matter.
i hate being on hold...
Published on April 26, 2004 By crimson In Gadgets & Electronics
I know that the technology exists where I should no longer have to make appointments with someone else, verbally and at the same time. I should be able to leave a message on her voice mail, say I'm free between 10 and 2 everyday for the next two weeks, go ahead and set it up. Let me know when, and I will see you there.

But better still, she should be able to have her schedule online, and I should be able to fill my name into the next available slot. I know some might say there's some security risk there, but there shouldn't have to be. Give me a secret code to plug in first. It's not like I don't have thirty of them tucked into my brain. I'm sure I can add one more.

Having said that, why bother with the bloody meeting at all? If anyone has ever had the need to update certain files with an organization, you know and I know that the only thing they want to do is check out that your paperwork is legit. Why not skip the middleman (me?) Call my people, and they can verify my info, and via telephone, if you so desire. They're getting paid to do their job, you're getting paid to do your job... why make my life such a hassle when it can be so easily rectified? It's not like you really want to see me. I know, because I passed you at the supermarket last week, and you strode right on by, without a hint of recognition in your eye...

Comments
on Apr 26, 2004

There are ways of doing this now, but they're proprietary.   We need a common method of doing so.

Even more important is for the government to endorse reliable STRONGLY ENCRYPTED digital identities.  When done right, public key encryption can work wonders.   You can have "Notary Public" people who can sign your encryption with theirs that says "Yes check my key I'm a notary public, and this person is indeed who they say they are".   Then you could do a similar thing for signing documents...each party of the agreement, and a 3rd party witness all 'sign' the document to make it legal.

Once digitial identities are in place and accepted, all that sort of thing will come to be....and very quickly.   Good article!

on Apr 26, 2004
When they released Internet Banking in Australia, I was over the moon. I have been into a bank maybe 3-4 times in the last 2-3 years!!!

There is a bad side though - inter-personal relationships, and people actually smiling when they give you service is fast becoming a thing of the past... Its all about efficiency these days... there has to be some compromise!

Good article Nic!

BAM!!!
on Apr 27, 2004
Good post! So much is already so dehumanized, why not?
on Apr 27, 2004

Bankers actually smile?