Automatic Entry and Forms....

Maybe we're going a bit too far with this idea.  I can see both sides of 
the arguement saying that it does help automate the process, yet it could 
inevitably lead to your personal information being grabbed without you 
even knowing it.

The idea of settings in your browser for Real Name and Email seem okay 
(especially for the most part since the majority of those browsers 
already have them for the purposes of sending email or posting articles), 
but fields for PGP Key? Social Security number?  IMHO, that seems a bit 
risky.

There is always the possibility that someone could write a seedy user 
agent that could transmit this info anywhere it please either via email 
or maybe hidden fields in forms.  I suppose there could be some committee 
out there that could try and check the code and "rate the agent", but 
that would probably waste time on the agent developement and in the end 
the agent will probably opt just to not have those fields.

How about this.  A person's email address is for the most part a unique 
identifier.  Let's say that "bob@anywhere.com" frequently visits a site 
that he can purchase goods that are sent to his home.  Why couldn't the 
site just keep customer records including address information, etc, etc.  
The agent would automatically fill in the email field (along with Real 
Name just to try and prevent mixups), and the customer record can be 
brought up and/or changed if needed to be.  In the end, that information 
would only need to be typed up once (but only for that one site).

----------------------- Christopher P. Josephes ----------------------------
Email |  mailto:cpj1@winternet.com
Web   |  http://www.winternet.com/~cpj1/

Received on Sunday, 25 February 1996 11:51:32 UTC