Eye On the Competency Gap
In times a'coming the most limiting factor in our society will be the difference in available opportunities between those who have tech knowledge and capabilities and those who have not. The latest example arises in the airport security fracas as security checks increase in the face of "news" that weapons can be concealed in electronic devices. [this was news to who??] The TSA maintains that "invasive searches" of electronics will only occur if chemical traces or "other suspicious suggestions of evil intent are revealed" during preliminary screenings. Definitions of "suspicious suggestions" are unavailable."I am just not letting someone with zero technical knowledge have at my laptop, ...I wouldn't let an untrained person prod my brain with a scalpel, either. I rely on both my wetware and my hardware too much to have a random person poking around in either. I just canceled a flight reservation and plan to drive to Chicago next week."
"...They can't break my dirty T-shirts or my toothbrush but they can so easily screw up my computer."
"...And if my computer dies I'm out of work until I can afford to replace it."
Which might be difficult when one is out of work... Overall there might be a silver lining for the economy. Adding up gas, tire wear, and stops at diners and Motel 6, the locals in the fly-over states get more business.
"If it comes down to a choice between my life and the sanctity of your laptop, you better believe I'll be first in line to help the security folks rip apart your computer," [said a man waiting for a flight at newark.] [emph. mine, ed.]
Spoken like a man who finds using a pencil dauntingly complex.
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