The following two posts are from the Gilder Technology Report forum. Can anyone respond re: (1) the hardware ID vs. user ID issue raised in the first message and (2) the bio-ID techniques vis-a-vis Wave's system mentioned in the second message. Thanks.
Rich
First message:
I just have a simple but fundamental question about Wave Systems'
authentication/identity infrastructure. Wave Systems is primarily
focussed on authenticating (establishing identity of) client
HARDWARE, correct?
This is fine and better than nothing, and perhaps a first step, but... Isn't
authenticating/identifying a HUMAN USER, not hardware, what we
really want to accomplish? In general, in the future, a user will be
moving from one hardware/appliance/terminal/phoneputer to another.
And hardware gets used over its life by different users.
If I've ordered content from somewhere, I want to be able to receive it
on any hardware that happens to be convenient and capable, not just
on one designated computer. And if I've ordered content for a
particular hardware, I want it to be sent only when it is I that is using that
hardware.
How does Wave Systems address this apparent
shortcoming/disconnect?
Second message:
As far as I can tell you have it about right --- Wave authenticates a
machine/device/node. An alternative technique is being pursued by
Carver Mead --- recognizing the finger on a touchpad. While that takes
it to the person it would require all/most devices to have such a
touchpad. There has also been interest in recognizing the retina, but
like the touchpad that requires a camera. |
