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Message no. 1
From: Michael Coleman <mscoleman@********.NET>
Subject: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 01:34:12 -0500
Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a stick
wont fit in my wallet!

Mike
Message no. 2
From: Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 16:35:35 +1000
Michael Coleman writes:
> Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
> things are going in real life I see a card as more likely.
> Besides a stick
> wont fit in my wallet!

A couple of reasons:

a) Sticks look cooler.

b) You can have the plug built into the credstick this way, so that two
credsticks can converse with each other more readily. (A lot harder to do
with a card).

c) The whole point behind cards is that they fit in the wallet. The whole
point behind the credstick is that you no longer need a wallet.

IMHO, clothing (especially shirts/coats/jackets) would come with special
pockets for credsticks.

--
Duct tape is like the Force: There's a Light side, a Dark side, and it
binds the Universe together.
Robert Watkins -- robert.watkins@******.com
Message no. 3
From: Max Rible <slothman@*********.ORG>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 23:41:42 -0700
At 01:34 9/14/98 -0500, Michael Coleman wrote:
>Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
>things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a stick
>wont fit in my wallet!

A credstick is a *substitute* for a wallet and keychain. A credstick
can hold certified cred to substitute for cash, can link to your
bank account as a substitute for credit cards and ATM cards, and
can transfer your electronic business card to someone else's
'stick if you hook them up. (You then later download them to your
personal organizer.) It substitutes for your driver's license, passport,
social security card, medical care provider card, and so on.
If someone wants to give you a key to a building, they just download
a private encryption key onto your 'stick, and they can then verify
that you've got the right to enter the building by passing your
'stick some data, having the 'stick encrypt it, and checking it against
what comes out.

Making it the size of a marker pen makes it a lot easier to build
sturdy-- cards are flat and easily bent and broken. A pen can be
made much more rigid than a card.

--
%% Max Rible %%% max@********.com %%% http://www.amurgsval.org/~slothman/ %%
%% "Ham is good... Glowing *tattooed* ham is *bad*!" - the Tick %%
Message no. 4
From: Michael Coleman <mscoleman@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 01:55:26 -0500
> > Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
> > things are going in real life I see a card as more likely.
> > Besides a stick
> > wont fit in my wallet!
> >
> >Mike
> A couple of reasons:
>
> a) Sticks look cooler.
>
> b) You can have the plug built into the credstick this way, so that two
> credsticks can converse with each other more readily. (A lot harder to do
> with a card).
>
> c) The whole point behind cards is that they fit in the wallet. The whole
> point behind the credstick is that you no longer need a wallet.
>
> IMHO, clothing (especially shirts/coats/jackets) would come with special
> pockets for credsticks.
> Robert Watkins


I dont see why you would need a plug. You could use magnetic induction to
transfer data. I use a ProxCard at work to open doors. I dont think stick
are cooler. You cant fan a hand full sticks as you can cards.

Mike
Message no. 5
From: Michael Coleman <mscoleman@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 01:59:10 -0500
> Making it the size of a marker pen makes it a lot easier to build
> sturdy-- cards are flat and easily bent and broken. A pen can be
> made much more rigid than a card.
>
> Max Rible

That sticks are stronger is maybe the only reason I will except, but I think
you could make a card just as sturdy with all the same functions.

Mike
Message no. 6
From: Iridios <iridios@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 08:37:30 -0400
Michael Coleman wrote:

> I dont see why you would need a plug. You could use magnetic induction to
> transfer data. I use a ProxCard at work to open doors. I dont think stick
> are cooler. You cant fan a hand full sticks as you can cards.

But you could carry multiple sticks in a credstick holder, similar to
the cigarette holders seen in older movies, the kind that flip open.
The holder could then even be personalized.

> Mike


--"Any science, sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from
magic."
--Arthur C. Clarke

Iridios
iridios@*********.com
ICQ UIN:6629224
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9489
http://members.theglobe.com/Iridios

-------Begin Geek Code Block------
GS d-(++) s+: a- C++ U?@>++ P L E?
W++ N o-- K- w(---) O? M-- V? PS+@
PE Y+ !PGP>++ t++@ 5+ X++@ R++@ tv
b+ DI++ !D G e+@>++++ h--- r+++ y+++
-------End Geek Code Block--------
Message no. 7
From: David Foster <fixer@*******.TLH.FL.US>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 08:47:29 -0400
On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Michael Coleman wrote:

->Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
->things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a stick
->wont fit in my wallet!

Because sticks can be hung on the tree at Christmas? ]:-)
Probably because FASA didn't consider the possibility of chips
with decent amounts of memory being put into a package as thin as a card.
Not to mention, I notice that several things about Shadowrun run parallel
to the old "Max Headroom" series on television (you know, the one with the
cyber-face on the monitor that kept annoying everyone, and the reporter
and the cute hacker-chick?) where they used credit sticks instead of
cards.....
Wonder where I can get copies of the old "Max Headroom" series at,
some of those would make great shadowruns....

Fixer --------------} The easy I do before breakfast,
the difficult I do all day long,
the impossible only during the week,
and miracles performed on an as-needed basis....

Now tell me, what was your problem?
Message no. 8
From: David Foster <fixer@*******.TLH.FL.US>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 08:49:21 -0400
On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Michael Coleman wrote:

->> Making it the size of a marker pen makes it a lot easier to build
->> sturdy-- cards are flat and easily bent and broken. A pen can be
->> made much more rigid than a card.
->>
->> Max Rible
->
->That sticks are stronger is maybe the only reason I will except, but I think
->you could make a card just as sturdy with all the same functions.

Make it of a metal-plastic substance (non-ferrous).... that'd
work.

Fixer --------------} The easy I do before breakfast,
the difficult I do all day long,
the impossible only during the week,
and miracles performed on an as-needed basis....

Now tell me, what was your problem?
Message no. 9
From: Drew Curtis <dcurtis@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 10:45:36 -0400
On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Michael Coleman wrote:

> Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
> things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a stick
> wont fit in my wallet!
>
Probably because it's a direct ripoff from William Gibson, just like nuyen
and monofilament whips.

D&D did the same thing with Lord of the Rings (halfings, treants, etc)

Drew Curtis, President, Digital Crescent, Incorporated
http://www.dcr.net (502) 226 3376 Internet and Software Design services.
Offering dial-up Access from Frankfort to Louisville and all points between.
Message no. 10
From: Patrick Goodman <remo@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 09:57:47 -0500
>> Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
>> things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a
stick
>> wont fit in my wallet!
>
>Probably because it's a direct ripoff from William Gibson, just like nuyen
>and monofilament whips.

Actually, if you want to get technical, monowhips are a direct rip-off from
Bruce Bethke, the man who actually coined the term "cyberpunk" in his story
of the same name, and who is also a much, much better writer than Gibson
could ever imagine being.

---
(>) Texas 2-Step
El Paso: Never surrender. Never forget. Never forgive.
Message no. 11
From: Steve Eley <sfeley@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 12:00:46 -0400
Michael Coleman wrote:
>
> I dont see why you would need a plug. You could use magnetic induction to
> transfer data. I use a ProxCard at work to open doors. I dont think stick
> are cooler. You cant fan a hand full sticks as you can cards.

But you can't have a credit card that's really a concealed mini-grenade.
>8-> (It's amazing what some Johnsons carry around with 'em...)


Have Fun,
- Steve Eley
sfeley@***.net
Message no. 12
From: Steve Eley <sfeley@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 12:03:42 -0400
David Foster wrote:
>
> Wonder where I can get copies of the old "Max Headroom" series at,
> some of those would make great shadowruns....

Hmmm.. You're right, come to think of it.

The episode I can remember most clearly is the one where Matt Freuer's
character was trying to expose a major financial corporation, so he got
framed for credit fraud and there was a city-wide manhunt for him.
("Credit fraud?! That's worse than MURDER!")

Definitely a shadowrunnable idea there.


Have Fun,
- Steve Eley
sfeley@***.net
Message no. 13
From: David Foster <fixer@*******.TLH.FL.US>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 12:23:35 -0400
On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Steve Eley wrote:

->David Foster wrote:
->>
->> Wonder where I can get copies of the old "Max Headroom" series
at,
->> some of those would make great shadowruns....
->
->Hmmm.. You're right, come to think of it.
->
->The episode I can remember most clearly is the one where Matt Freuer's
->character was trying to expose a major financial corporation, so he got
->framed for credit fraud and there was a city-wide manhunt for him.
->("Credit fraud?! That's worse than MURDER!")

Isn't that the one where that woman had programmed a computer to
be a near-AI and it, eventually, turned on it's creator and did the 'right
thing' because of Max Headroom's negotiations and explanations? Hmmm...
.a decker and an otaku..... interesting ideas.... ]:-)

Fixer --------------} The easy I do before breakfast,
the difficult I do all day long,
the impossible only during the week,
and miracles performed on an as-needed basis....

Now tell me, what was your problem?
Message no. 14
From: Steve Eley <sfeley@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 12:39:57 -0400
David Foster wrote:
>
> Isn't that the one where that woman had programmed a computer to
> be a near-AI and it, eventually, turned on it's creator and did the 'right
> thing' because of Max Headroom's negotiations and explanations? Hmmm...
> .a decker and an otaku..... interesting ideas.... ]:-)

Yes, I *think* that was the same episode. If I remember, though, the
strongest reason the program changed sides was because she/it had a
"crush" on Max Headroom... >8->


Have Fun,
- Steve Eley
sfeley@***.net
Message no. 15
From: Drew Curtis <dcurtis@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 14:20:44 -0400
On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Patrick Goodman wrote:

> >Probably because it's a direct ripoff from William Gibson, just like nuyen
> >and monofilament whips.
>
> Actually, if you want to get technical, monowhips are a direct rip-off from
> Bruce Bethke, the man who actually coined the term "cyberpunk" in his story
> of the same name, and who is also a much, much better writer than Gibson
> could ever imagine being.
>
I couldn't agree more grin.

Drew Curtis, President, Digital Crescent, Incorporated
http://www.dcr.net (502) 226 3376 Internet and Software Design services.
Offering dial-up Access from Frankfort to Louisville and all points between.
Message no. 16
From: Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 13:27:32 -0400
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 01:34 AM 9/14/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The
way
>things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a
stick
>wont fit in my wallet!

Most likely, someone at FASA watched those old Max Headroom shows,
where people had "Credit Tubes"

Or it could be that they looked into some of the research on
electronic smartcards, and found that the things are a bit fragile
currently; you don't want to keep one in your back pocket when you sit
down.

However, there are precidents in FASA cannon for credstick like
devices in a card shaped formfactor. So as a GM, if you want cards in
your game, use cards.

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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 17
From: Paul Gettle <RunnerPaul@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 15:04:12 -0400
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 08:47 AM 9/14/98 -0400, Fixer wrote:

> Probably because FASA didn't consider the possibility of
chips
>with decent amounts of memory being put into a package as thin as a
card.

Nope. Check Neo-Anarchists' North America. They've considered it, and
even made extensive use of it.

>Not to mention, I notice that several things about Shadowrun run
parallel
>to the old "Max Headroom" series on television (you know, the one
with the
>cyber-face on the monitor that kept annoying everyone, and the
reporter
>and the cute hacker-chick?) where they used credit sticks instead of
>cards.....

The cute hacker-chick? Calling Theora Jones "chick" is almost
blasphemy; please show the respect due this woman. :)
(did anyone notice that in Amanda Pays' other notable lead female
role, Christina McGee on "The Flash" she was still riding shotgun on a
computer terminal for the hero of the show?)

> Wonder where I can get copies of the old "Max Headroom"
series at,
>some of those would make great shadowruns....

Sci-Fi channel will run the re-runs every so often.
I still have the pilot episode on tape, from it's original network run
a decade ago; however it's on betamax.

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--
-- Paul Gettle, #970 of 1000 (RunnerPaul@*****.com)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:0x48F3AACD (RSA 1024, created 98/06/26)
C260 94B3 6722 6A25 63F8 0690 9EA2 3344
Message no. 18
From: Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 09:01:01 +1000
Michael Coleman writes:
> I dont see why you would need a plug. You could use magnetic induction to
> transfer data. I use a ProxCard at work to open doors. I dont
> think stick
> are cooler. You cant fan a hand full sticks as you can cards.

*cough* If you want credsticks/cards to use magnetic induction to transfer
data, I volunteer to stand next to you on the subway. :)

Seriously, though, let's consider what the credstick/card system needs:

1) _Secure_ communications. This means no remotes. Physical contact is the
only secure communication system, and even that has problems.

2) Two-way data transfer, for the duration of the transaction. This means
you can't just swipe the card through a reader like you can with an EFTPOS
machine. It'd have to stay in contact with the reader (like an ATM, but they
only do it so they can steal the card from you).

3) Memory, and lots of it.

Okay, at this point, you can put it into a card. Why? No power source is
needed (assumption: cheap and powerful memory that can retain state without
a trickle charge. No big deal, really). However, credsticks must have a
power source. Why? Because FASA states that two sticks can link together and
do a transaction without a credstick reader. There's no way to do this
without power.

It's a lot easier to put a battery into a stick than it is into a card. So
they went for the stick. It's also easier to set up two-way communication
with another credstick/card in a stick configuration.

--
Duct tape is like the Force: There's a Light side, a Dark side, and it
binds the Universe together.
Robert Watkins -- robert.watkins@******.com
Message no. 19
From: Chameleon <cham@***.BIGPOND.NET.AU>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 00:43:43 GMT
And so, on Mon, 14 Sep 1998 01:34:12 -0500 did Michael Coleman
<mscoleman@********.NET> quoth merrily:

>Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
>things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a =
stick
>wont fit in my wallet!
>
>Mike

Because it's easier to say "Credstik" then it is to say "CredCard",
DUH:)

Chameleon,

<<<Begin SIG File>>>
Don't be silly. If this was REALLY the ships self destuct button,
do you think they would leave it lying around where anyone could press =
it?
- Famous Last Words
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
I'm always here, you just don't see me:)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
Live hard, Die young, Leave a good looking corpse!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
Thank God I'm an atheist
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my father,
instead of screaming in terror like his passengers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
Mind Like A Steel Trap - Rusty And Illegal In 37 States
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
The computer revolution is over. They won.
<<<End SIG File>>>
Message no. 20
From: "Paul Wynter (Seraph)" <seraph@********.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 17:55:49 -0700
>Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
>things are going in real life I see a card as more likely. Besides a stick
>wont fit in my wallet!
>
>Mike
>

Ever watch TechWar? That show by William Shatner on the SciFi channel? They
use a kind of card that is basically the credstick and it hooks up with
others when you need a transaction. I see the card as more likely as well.

______________________________________________________
seraph@********.com
______________________________________________________
Flappity, floppity, flip,
The mouse on the mobius strip;
The strip revolved, The mouse dissolved
In a chronodimensional skip
Message no. 21
From: Robert Watkins <robert.watkins@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 11:06:14 +1000
Paul Wynter writes:
> Ever watch TechWar? That show by William Shatner on the SciFi
> channel? They
> use a kind of card that is basically the credstick and it hooks up with
> others when you need a transaction. I see the card as more likely as well.

Please, I still have nightmares from the night a group of us watched all
four TekWar videos in a session... Never have a seen a more pathetic set of
videos.

<sits quietly in the corner and whimpers for a while>

--
.sig deleted to conserve electrons. robert.watkins@******.com
Message no. 22
From: Wordman <wordman@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 20:37:06 -0400
Steve Eley wrote:
> he got
>framed for credit fraud and there was a city-wide manhunt for him.
>("Credit fraud?! That's worse than MURDER!")

I contact in a campaign I was in was known as the Street Cleaner. Samurai
who took him as a contact could call him up any time they killed a guy who
had cyberware. The Cleaner would come, take the body and extract the cyber
and resell it. This made him an accessory after the fact to dozens, probably
hundreds of homicides. During one run, we discovered he had been
imprisoned... for tax evasion.

Wordman
Message no. 23
From: Robert Nesius <nesius@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 23:50:35 -0800
>Michael Coleman writes:
>> I dont see why you would need a plug. You could use magnetic induction to
>> transfer data. I use a ProxCard at work to open doors. I dont
>> think stick
>> are cooler. You cant fan a hand full sticks as you can cards.
>
>1) _Secure_ communications. This means no remotes. Physical contact is the
>only secure communication system, and even that has problems.
>
>2) Two-way data transfer, for the duration of the transaction. This means
>you can't just swipe the card through a reader like you can with an EFTPOS
>machine. It'd have to stay in contact with the reader (like an ATM, but they
>only do it so they can steal the card from you).
>

Robert raises good points. To go into greater detail:

Credsticks are described as being able to conduct transactions without
the services of a separate reader. Magnetic induction won't cut it,
because there needs to be assurances in the transaction mechanism that
the individual receiving credit really receives it, and the person giving
it really loses it. This calls into necessity the existance of a
transaction protocol, sitting atop a transport protocol to facilitate
the dialog between the transaction protocols. In summary, that is
gaurenteed to imply some sort of micro-circuitry and decision making
capability on the part of the credstick.

At this point, you could still argue for a credit-card form factor
probably, but I think in the big scheme of things, it's a personal
preference. :)

-Rob
Message no. 24
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 11:00:02 +0100
And verily, did Chameleon hastily scribble thusly...
Errr..... Chameleon,
|
|<<<Begin SIG File>>>

The standard .sig separator is '-- '. This allows news and e-mail programs
to remove the sig.

And I *THINK* you're overdoing it a tad on the length.
(Why not create a few shorter ones and use a sigchange program to randomise
which ones appear?)

People have complained about mine before now, and they're only 9 lines long.
(As opposed to your 25)
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
| Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
| Finalist in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
| Computer Science | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 25
From: Patrick Goodman <remo@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 11:20:56 -0500
>|<<<Begin SIG File>>>
>
>The standard .sig separator is '-- '. This allows news and e-mail programs
>to remove the sig.

Is it just 2 hyphens? I thought it was three.

---
(>) Texas 2-Step
El Paso: Never surrender. Never forget. Never forgive.
Message no. 26
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 20:50:24 +0100
And verily, did Patrick Goodman hastily scribble thusly...
|
|>|<<<Begin SIG File>>>
|>
|>The standard .sig separator is '-- '. This allows news and e-mail programs
|>to remove the sig.
|
|Is it just 2 hyphens? I thought it was three.

2 hyphens and a space.

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| Windows95 (noun): 32 bit extensions and a |
| | graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit |
| Andrew Halliwell | operating system originally coded for a 4 bit |
| Finalist in:- |microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that|
| Computer Science | can't stand 1 bit of competition. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
Message no. 27
From: Alex Pennock <acjpenn@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 18:30:50 -0500
Patrick Goodman wrote:

> >|<<<Begin SIG File>>>
> >
> >The standard .sig separator is '-- '. This allows news and e-mail programs
> >to remove the sig.

what does this have to do with credsticks??
Message no. 28
From: Jonathan Hurley <jhurley1@************.EDU>
Subject: Re: Credstick
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 22:12:44 -0400
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shadowrun Discussion [mailto:SHADOWRN@********.ITRIBE.NET]On
> Behalf Of Max Rible
> Sent: Monday, September 14, 1998 02:42
> To: SHADOWRN@********.ITRIBE.NET
> Subject: Re: Credstick
>
>
> At 01:34 9/14/98 -0500, Michael Coleman wrote:
> >Does anyone wonder why a credstick is a stick and not a card. The way
> >things are going in real life I see a card as more likely.
> Besides a stick
> >wont fit in my wallet!
>
> A credstick is a *substitute* for a wallet and keychain. A credstick
> can hold certified cred to substitute for cash, can link to your
> bank account as a substitute for credit cards and ATM cards, and
> can transfer your electronic business card to someone else's
> 'stick if you hook them up. (You then later download them to your
> personal organizer.) It substitutes for your driver's license, passport,
> social security card, medical care provider card, and so on.
> If someone wants to give you a key to a building, they just download
> a private encryption key onto your 'stick, and they can then verify
> that you've got the right to enter the building by passing your
> 'stick some data, having the 'stick encrypt it, and checking it against
> what comes out.
>
> Making it the size of a marker pen makes it a lot easier to build
> sturdy-- cards are flat and easily bent and broken. A pen can be
> made much more rigid than a card.


What I've been messing around with in my game is a e-wallet thing. About the
size of a current billfold wallet (call it 6cm x 5cm x 1.5 cm or so), it has
a lcd-type screen to display documentation on, a credstick internals, a
credstick plug, a pop-out cardswipe, and the batteries to run it on.
Perhaps, a semi-detached plug that lets it open cars and such that are
credstick-opened.

This way, the guy who wants to eyeball your documentation doesn't have to
pull out a bulky piece of gear to do a quick face-check, it's slightly
harder to lose while being nearly as convenient, and lets the owner do stuff
without having to carry two bits of gear, the credstick and the reader.
Credsticks are still used to carry certcred, as keys, and for stuff like
tolls, tips, and other things you'd rather not have to take your entire ID
package out for.

Now, the e-wallet is going to be more expensive than the credstick, so the
lower classes are not always going to have one. Also, the high-upper classes
are going to appreciate the anonymity available by being able to hand the
store clerk an unmarked credstick that doesn't have his life story on it.
The middle-class (the very few) are going to be more likely to prefer the
convenience of the wallet, and not care as much about the security/privacy
concerns.

Incidentally, did anyone notice the rather high level of anonymity of
credstick verification? Fingerprints, voiceprints, retinal scans, genescans;
they all merely require that one computer ask another's database whether or
not the entry in the database that bears this reference matches the current
sample... No names, no games.

Ian Silvercat claims the above in the name of himself!
--------------
Those who would give up a little freedom for security
deserve neither freedom nor security - Benjamin Franklin
That which does not exist has never been named - Mirumoto Nohito
Jonathan Hurley (mailto:jhurley1@************.edu)
Homepage : http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~jhurley1

Further Reading

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Thwap!