Re: digital quipu (was personality transmitters)

Philip Witham (pwitham@cts.com)
Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:39:50 -0700 (PDT)


On Mon, 18 Aug 1997, Brian D Williams wrote:
>
> Dead Media Working Notes 00.3
>
> medium: the Inca Quipo aka Quipu

Nift-o-rama, re: Quipo.

Just thought of another use or three for these things.

PGP encrypted letters recorded in your unit for reception by some other
person attending the same meeting. Encrypt by the recipient's public key,
and the letter is exchanged without you even knowing which individual it
is.

Such letters could include digital cash. Also, the tag units could
negitiate a transaction, by pre-set rules, like: I'll buy 1000 widgets if
the price is under $4.29 each.

Requires no change in the hardware.

Very anarchic and potent, this must be an old idea by now.

- PW