RE: PINs--pro and con

["David Jones" <DJones at scu dot edu>]

>>> w dot schupbach at wellcome dot ac dot uk 5/16/2005 10:10 AM >>>
Barbara: if you decide to retain this level of security,  typographical errors or patron confusion might be reduced if patrons using a keyboard knew they had the option of using a word instead of a number.  
<<<

Unless you use a SIP interface that does not include a full alpha keyboard. We have a 3M self-check machine that if it required a PIN, could not accomodate letters. If you go the route of allowing full alphanumeric PINs, make sure beforehand that all of the ways patrons might access the system will allow for full alphanumeric...

Luckily, the keypad on our self-check unit has the alphabet written on it like a phone, so patrons can always use a PIN that spells something out (preferrably not the whole thing and preferrably out of order, but you get the idea) much as they do with PINs on their ATM cards.

HTH,
David




_____________________________________________________________________
David Jones                                     mailto:djones at scu dot edu
Library Systems Manager                   http://www.scu.edu/library/
Orradre Library                                   fax:   408-551-1805
Santa Clara University                            phone: 408-551-7167
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