The other day I had a brief, but bad, technology episode. Fortunately I was on my own at the time, accessing the company’s online banking account from my PC at the office, not at an ATM in public where anyone could have observed my ‘sixties moment’.
To be fair to myself, it was the first time I can recall, and from what I gather it’s becoming a fairly common occurrence with just about everyone these stressed out days. But, none the less, it was still a scary moment.
Of course YOC’s bank account requires three, not two, lots of numbers to be entered (a CBA requirement for EFTing over $5k at a time); although the last set are random numbers and come from a bank supplied token so you don’t actually have to remember that lot (just keep track of the token).
The first set are the usual 8 digits for Client Number followed by six for the Password - all to be memorised and, as the banks continually stress, definitely not allowed to be written down anywhere handy (you know just in case you forgot and really needed them, da).
Trouble is once you log in the usual way i.e. the numbers just go in under ‘cruise control’ and if you get a single digit wrong, they can’t/won’t tell you which one - that would be too easy for the baddies wouldn’t it?
And when you actually have to deliberately think what all the numbers are – well it’s all down hill for me.
My solution for what it’s worth, is walk away and do something else for 10 minutes or so, then come back and start again – if you’re like me you’ll probably get it straight away!
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The so-called virtues of a single national Smart Card
Any one who has had a PIN number melt down like me (see above) would likely embrace the introduction of a single card to access all digital information and say to hell with any privacy issues – what have I got to hide.
However Australia is unique in its official approach to all privacy matters, and it’s a stance which dates back to our earliest convict forbears.
Genealogists will tell you this country is apparently the only place in the world which actually destroys its census records once they have been consolidated into the anonymous blocks of very useful information usually reserved for matters requiring a big picture perspective.
From what I understand it was the first generation, born in this country Australians, who were reluctant to have recorded their parent’s ‘records’ in other words in the lingua franca of the day they insisted on ‘hiding the stain’ and this stance has become enshrined in our law to this day.
Paradoxically most modern Australians would be proud to claim a convict somewhere in the family tree if they could find them; although if Great Uncle Joe was a recently convicted paedophile - well you can see the implications can’t you.
My main concern has always been – what’s on the record now? If it’s wrong, can it be changed … and who’s responsible?
Anyway, it’s just more technology and I can’t see a Smart Card coming soon!
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What’s your favourite technology?
Most academics and knowledge workers generally, plus virtually anyone under 40, would probably respond quickly with a single word – GOOGLE.
However for many older PC users, who don’t fit the description above, their choice is far less obvious.
In fact they probably wouldn’t actually know, but if I were to choose it for them I reckon it would have to be the ‘Undo Move/Typing’ function on MS Word.
It simply has to be the best invention yet for them. I mean how many times do they accidentally lose their work by pressing some obscure button?
Reduced to near tears of frustration they implore assistance to find the offending material, and when questioned, “Which function/button did you use?” they can never remember or even tell you why they actually did it.
No matter how often they are asked to save their work regularly - they don’t - and get quite agitated when you are churlish enough to remind them once again.
If this sounds like someone you know/love. Don’t show them this … just grin and bear it … they’re not about to change soon!
And if you have a favourite piece of technology, please let me know and I can share it with other YOC members.
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GET CONNECTED WITHOUT SWEEPING STATEMENTS ACCUSING THE INNOCENT
Dear Andrew,
Andrew you usually get it right BUT I take offence at your statement " since the Alan Bonds of this world sullied what used to stand for a lot of the good things".
Like Mike Gibson many years ago who called the Alan Bonds of this world crooks in an article in the Daily Telegraph without giving an apology when I wrote to the Tele re that that article, a letter which was never published,.... an article which tremendously upset my late father.
You, like Gibson, made a sweeping statement but ignored that there may be people with same name who become a laughing stock with people who know them, whether they be friend or foe.
You, like Gibson, should identify the actual English born former West Australian millionaire Alan Bond from the word go, and keep the comments strictly to him without bringing in other people who have the same name with such a, unfortunately, ignorant, sweeping statement that offends. Even though you alluded to the right identification later, it is that sweeping statement in your second line of the opening paragraph that certainly caught my eye, and I'm sure others.
I know you didn't mean to offend but there are those who will use your statement for their own ends, particularly because of the letters I write and will use it to belittle submissions I put into Council. Believe me, there are those in the Illawarra who will do that.
I would hope that next time with whoever, you stick only to the person concerned with clear identification from the outset.
Regards
Alan Bond | 
