It's rare to see so many components of bad policy in a single place:
1) Corporate welfare - let's create a policy that gives lots of money to
ERG.
2) Ignoring history - let's gloss over public indifference to NSW's last
smartcard trial, also let's ignore how flaky automatic ticketing systems
have been on trains and buses.
3) Rosy optimism - let's make the decisions based on powerpoint
proselytising, and for heaven's sake let's avoid having any pessimists
around to say "security, privacy, functionality" at us.
4) Blue-skyism - it's not happening now, actually, it's happening in four
years' time, a good extended timeline that guarantees a quiet burial if it
doesn't work.
5) Toss in a little silly speculation - "could also be used for" without
outlining the "ifs" which in this case include "if it works", "if people
want a cashless society" and so on.
6) Dependency - what if ERG goes under?
7) Completely ignore consequences.
Stir thoroughly, and you end up with a mess. I'll now predict that it will
run over budget, will be late in rollout, and that early adopters will flood
the media with complaints about system failures and mistaken charges.
Richard C
-----Original Message-----
From: Howard Lowndes [mailto:lannet@lannet.com.au]
Sent: Monday, 13 August 2001 7:54
To: Eric Scheid
Cc: Link List
Subject: Re: [LINK] A card that may change all our lives
It makes much more sense to implant a microchip. That would have less
chance of being stolen (8-)
-- Howard. LANNet Computing Associates Contact detail at http://www.lannetlinux.comOn Mon, 13 Aug 2001, Eric Scheid wrote:
> Did we all read in the weekend papers about Carr's wonderful new > electronic payment card he's got plans for? > > >A card that may change all our lives > >EXCLUSIVE By chief writer NATHAN VASS > >12aug01 > >A REVOLUTIONARY commuter "smartcard" with the potential to create a > >cashless society in Sydney will be introduced by the State Government. > > <http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,2566711%255 > E701,00.html> > > >This means one card will pay for bus, train and ferry trips, highway > >tolls, groceries, retail goods, online shopping, phone and utility bills, > >movie and concert tickets, traffic fines and professional services. > > all sounding fine, except maybe the penultimate item listed... which > raises a red flag when I then read: > > >"The smartcard will not need to be removed from a wallet or bag, it only > >needs to pass the validator, which will signal acceptance of the fare > > and also > > >They can be linked to a bank account so the card automatically "tops up" > >without the user ever having to go to a bank. The card could also become a > >driver's licence and Medicare card. > > I wonder if the identification details will be automatically released and > handed over by the ticket scanners? I can't wait for the targeted > advertising in my mail box. > > Panic starts to then set in when a few pages further into the paper I > find > > >Revealed: Sydney's greediest speed cameras > <http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,2566643%255 > E3163,00.html> > > I imagine a dark future where a ticket inspector will walk up and down > the train, and by virtue of being in scanning range automatically issue > fines for not having a valid ticket. A quick stroll, without the > inconvenience of actually stopping and investigating, and the gummint > raises more revenue. > > e. > > ______________________________________________________________________ > eric@ironclad.net.au i r o n c l a d n e t w o r k s > information architect http://www.ironclad.net.au/ > >
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