The sci-fi of 2010

Set up an EC2 account with Amazon Web Services yesterday. It went pretty much like this:

1. Provide e-mail and desired password.
2. Provide credit card payment details.
3. Provide phone number.
4. Observe freshly generated web page with a four digit random PIN.
5. Receive an automated call from +18872510696, that wants the PIN shown on the web.
6. State the PIN loudly and clearly into the phone.
7. Observe the web page automatically go from PIN display to “Validated”.

Now, I realize that voice recognition isn’t new. I’ve used it over the phone before. But I just hadn’t expected it as part a regular on-line, web-based authentication process.

Sometimes, when you stop to think about it, it boggles the mind to realize how instantly accessible we all are.