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| Licensing Computer Users | | Date Created: Mar 30, 2006, 07:56 PM |
I first read about this a few years ago in a column by John C. Dvorak. It's one of the best ideas I ever heard, and the thing is, it could be done today, with existing technology.
First off, some people actually do not use the Internet in any way, shape, or form. They simply have Quickbooks on a computer and do their books on it, or use Excel for spread sheets, or play the occassional game. My brother-in-law does not touch the Internet, but he uses his computer all the time. This would not apply to anyone unless they wanted to access the Internet...
The idea: Why not license Internet users?
We could give people a class, like "Drivers Ed", called Internet Ed. In this class would be taught "World Wide Web and Email Use". While taking the class they can have a permit, which can only be used in the presence of a person who has had a "Type A Internet License" for at least 5 years (during this time, they can surf the Web, but can not check email). At the end of the class, they can take a test and get their license. After they have their "Type A Internet License", they can Surf the Web and use Email. These people can not download anything from the Web, or open any attachments in email, they can print whatever they like.
If they want to be able to open attachments in email, download things from the Web (such as music or video), or use chat/bbs, they will need to get a "Type B Internet License". They take another class, take another test, and get another license...
If they want to access more of the Internet, they can get a "Type C Internet License". They take another class, take another test, and get another license. With the Type C, they can use the Internet for Online Commerce What does that mean? It means they can do everything that you can do with a Type A & B License as well as buy and sell things online, do online banking, and pay their bills onlines. Basically, they can use other people's systems, and download from them, as per the rules set by the server administrators...
If they want to actually run their own server, website, chatroom, bbs, or online store they would need a Type D Internet License. You would not be able to upload anything anywhere on the Internet without this license. This license would allow people to run the server/web space that everything is happening on...
Type A - Basic User
Type B - Average User
Type C - Power User
Type D - WebMaster/SysAdmin
Instead of a card, the license would in an "Authentication USB Thumbdrive". One could use any program on any computer, but if the computer/user did anything which would require Internet Access, the computer would ask for your license. You grab the thumbdrive from your pocket, as you do it scans your thumbprint, when it blinks green you know to insert the thumdrive into the USB port on the computer; when you do this is asks for both the username and password - you give them. From that point on, any program which requires Internet Access can Authenticate itself, or not, via the Authentication USB Thumbdrive...
Once you take the Authentication USB Thumbdrive out, the process starts over again. The Authentication USB Thumbdrive does not work without your thumbprint, username and password; the computer can access nothing without an Authentication USB Thumbdrive; the computer can do nothing beyond the scope of your Type A, B, C, or D License...
The technology for this is already here - we use it everyday without knowing it (well I, and those like me, know it)...
If you do something stupid, like open an attachment which unleashes something bad, visit a bad website which unleashes something bad, or anything else (including criminal activity and/or spamming) - you get a ticket (or worse)...
Enough tickets, or bad enough behavior, can get your license revoked...
98% of all the bad stuff that happens on the Internet is due to the User, not the Computer, or a program (the computer and/or program just does what we tell it to do). If we established something like this - so there were consequences for every one of our actions - the Internet would be a safe place...
Imagine if everytime someone acted like an idiot driving their car instantly got a ticket. We would all drive slower and behave more civil, wouldn't we? Don't lie - most of us would get our license taken away a few times before learning our lesson - myself included. But how safe would the highways be?... |
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