We got it solved! My Mom and Dad are finally on line again. My sister drove to our parents’ home and called me on her cell phone. I was able to coach her through getting on line and making sure they can send email. Case closed – at least until the next hiccup occurs.
In the mean time, I found out that someone has written a book entitled Technostress. I haven’t read it. Too stressful to thing about it right now.
Tags: Technostress
Usability
My Mother and Dad live in Idaho; I live in Arizona. This week their old computer, which ran Windows 95, bit the dust, so they bought a new one from the nearby Best Buy store. I’ve spent several hours on the telephone talking them through the process of getting it to work and getting on line. They don’t own a cell phone and still use dialup access, so I’d have to give some advice, hang up and have them try some stuff, and then get back on the phone to try something else.
Mom can use a word processor pretty well, can barely use email, and tries to surf the web once in a while. But her knowledge of computers is no where near intuitive. She has had to made the conversion from Windows 95 to Windows XP, from an old version of Outlook to Outlook Express, and also use a new ISP. Arrrrggggh!
Back in the 1920’s, if you bought a car, it was assumed that you knew enough about cars to be your own mechanic. I think we are still in the 1920’s mode with computers. We are still a long way from a non-technical person being able to buy a computer, plug it in and be productive.
My Dad aptly labels this “Technostress.”
By the way, they still aren’t on line. I’ll report back when it works.
Tags: Technostress
Usability
Interesting article about an integrated Identity RFID Smart Card used at the Veltins Arena in Germany. The Smart Card is used for parking, admissions and concessions: “You drive to the stadium and scan your card to open the parking gate. You park your car and walk to the gate closest to your seats. You scan yourself in. Before you go to your seat, you buy a couple hot dogs and a beer. To pay for the food, you scan your card again. Money is deducted from your debit account.”
Tags: Identity
Digital Identity
Identity Management
SmartCard
RFID
Veltins Arena
The announcement that the NSA used persistent cookies on their web site reminds me of a phrase I saw on in a worker’s cubicle at Alcoa many years ago, “Intelligence, even if artificial, is preferable to stupidity, no matter how genuine.”
Sounds like we have a case of bumbling stupidity here, not a calculated effort to spy on us all.
But, of course, we could take the popular position that the NSA is a subversive organization trying to undermine the populace. But if we take that position, we must acknowledge the Cookie Monster is an NSA undercover operative.
According to a CNN news clip yesterday, “2005 saw the most computer security breaches ever, subjecting millions of Americans to potential identity fraud … The Treasury Department says that cyber crime has now outgrown illegal drug sales in annual proceeds, netting an estimated $105 billion in 2004.”
This underscores the need for strong, effective, Identity Management as part of the overall battle against cyber crime..
Chameleon: “a person given to often expedient or facile change in ideas or character.” Sounds like an apt description of a sneaky thief to me.
Tags: Identity
Digital Identity
Identity Management
Identity Theft
Frank & Ernest
Chameleon
For 26 1/2 years, Dusty and Bill Phillips, my older sister and her husband, have owned and operated Big B’s, home of great hamburgers, homemade fries and the best thick milkshakes the world has to offer. Today, that era came to an end, when they sold the business to a small fast food chain. Already, the Big B’s sign is down and the menu has been changed.
The little hamburger joint was a favorite of the locals in Sandy, Utah. Dusty and Bill’s four kids had their first real work experiences behind the counter of Big B’s. My kids loved to stop there when ever we visited Utah. Last August, when my wife, Claudia, and I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary in Utah, we stopped by for a photo and some food. I’ve got to admit a little lump arose in my throat tonight when Dusty told me the news.
Tags: Hamburger
Milkshake
Big B’s
Sandy Utah
I enjoyed watching an entertaining and insightful video interview of Doc Searls today.
He spoke of “Value Constellations,” each a “set of relationships between individuals” that “come together in the live web.” He challenged, “You have to participate.”
This sounds a lot like Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems talking about the Participation Age.
Tags: Identity
Digital Identity
Identity Management
Sun Microsystems
Doc Searls
Scott McNealy
Participation Age
Identity Relationships
Every year at Christmas time, my mother sends each of her 7 children, their spouses and children an Idaho Spud candy bar. This little gift is a unique link to the state where I grew up, and a fond tradition for our extended family. Plus, I think they are delicious!
Today, AP issued an article about the venerable treat. CNN.com picked it up as an item in their Offbeat News section.
Tags: Idaho
Idaho Spud
Candy
Potato
My very pregnant daughter Angie Dunn plays an active role in the $4 billion per year scrapbooking industry. It never ceases to amaze me how a simple concept like putting family photos into books has blossomed into such a dynamic industry!
Angie teaches a monthly scrapbooking class named “Simplicity” for Scrapbooks, Etc., the largest scrapbooking retail store in Mesa, Arizona, where she also works as a retail associate. Yesterday, the family gathered at the store to help her produce the 400 kits she will need for this month’s four classes.
Angie also designs layouts for Bazzill Basics Paper, the premier scrapbooking supplies wholesaler in the industry. We first met Doug and Marti Jones, who own Scrapbooks, Etc. and Bazzill Basics Paper, when we moved to Arizona 15 years ago. Doug had a little plastics engraving business and Marti cut out wooden items for crafts in their garage. Then they caught the Scrapbooking wave and became industry leaders. It took lots of work, much perseverance, many talented people like Angie, and the good fortune of being in the right place at the right time. Thanks, Doug and Marti, for giving Angie a chance to blossom as the Scrapbooking Angel!