Biometrics (was Re: Evaluating opinions ...)

[Mike Schwartz-PC Support & Services]

> Of course, it's also -technically- illegal to use your SSN for anything
> other than dealings with the Social Security system, but try getting
> into university without using it.  Good luck.  I've never been told
> how they manage to get around that.

	When I was helping to write the student registration system at the
University of Wisconsin (circa 1970) we were told that we had to have such a
mechanism built into the program.  

	It turns out that the Social Security people provide a bank of
numbers that fit the SS format that they guarantee will NEVER be issued as
real SS numbers.  The numbers all started with the same first few digits,
like the 555 numbers do for the phone company.  (For those of you who don't
know, any phone number that starts with 555 is bogus.  For example, whenever
you hear a phone number given out in a movie, the actor will likely say,
"call 555-whatever")

	Students couldn't choose an ID number, although I was told later by
the registrar that some had asked for that option.  

	Of course, the University attorneys prepared a draconian statement
that the students had to sign, telling students that if they ever forgot the
number that the computer issued to them, their records might not be
accessible.  This could cost them job opportunities from future employers,
and there might be additional fees and delays for transcript requests.  

	Registration personnel were especially told to point this out to
females, who would also be likely to change their last names.  

	Can you see trying to explain to an employer (or to the registrars
office), "Gee, I don't recall the student ID number that I requested in lieu
of a SS number when I was a student, and half of my records are under Susan
Jones, and the other half are under Susan Smith, because I got married while
I was in College..."

	I will say that I am all for limiting the uses of a SS number.  For
example, I got my pilots license in the 60's.  Circa 1980 or so, the FAA
started issuing pilots licenses where the license number was the pilot's
social security number.  Then they reversed themselves, and started
reissuing all the licenses that had SS numbers on them, substituting unique
numbers.  It's still not a foolproof system, but this makes it a little
harder for an impostor to obtain computerized weather briefings and file
flight plans under my name.  Surprisingly, they started reissuing licenses
BEFORE 9/11, mostly due to complaints from pilots about possible identity
theft.      

*** Mike Schwartz ***
*** PC Support & Services, Appleton, WI ***