Sir, – I completely share the bemusement expressed by Sheila Deegan regarding what simultaneously can and cannot be done with technology by different entities (Letters, October 3rd).
While her local takeaway restaurants can identify her and rapidly complete a transaction, recognising the number she dials from, those providing electricity, television and even the phone itself are continually at a loss as to who is calling and what their motives might be.
Similarly, it seems inexplicable that we can all book flights between any locations we wish on a given date while a GP cannot arrange an X-ray in their local hospital.
A gym I’ve been attending since 2010 uses fingerprint recognition to allow entry, and we use biometric passports to travel, yet Government efforts to eradicate social welfare fraud are doomed to fail.
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We expect taxis to accept card payments but swiping onto a bus with an ATM card remains an impossibility.
Enterprises that are, or were, State-backed seem remarkably resistant to innovation. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.