Stunning amount of technology penetration
2003-Dec-06, Saturday 08:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ssurgulFor all those who know the Mt. View DMV right next to Target and across the street from Walmart, here's a rather amusing counter example.
That building looks like it's a revamped reject from the 50's. The interior is hideous, and formicah laden. They do everything in paper, and the counters look like something out of a bad Post Office slasher flick.
I just got my new license up here in WA on Friday. They have a number system. You walk in, talk to the nice receptionist lady, and tell her what you want. Then you get a number ticket based on what you're doing. There are 5 windows each side, for the various licensing things that need to happen. Each window is wired to the same numbering system, but the 'line' is a communal pool of chairs and each window simply takes the next pending number in the queue.
So, even after I filled out the paperwork, the awesome technology experience continued. I was assigned a terminal number off to the side, where they had a bank of touch screen computers, and the number I had (10) was waiting for me cheerily, with my name across the top. I sat down, and took the test. Had to pass 20 out of 25. Ok, so I missed two, one because I erred on the side of caution and one because I just didn't understand what they wanted for an answer. But, as soon as I got to 22 questions, it actually just stopped the test. I'd scored my requisite 20, and they didn't feel a need to make me take the last 3. Fucking awesome!
Another number assignment, another quickie trip over, to a totally different window person, and she didn't blink at all with getting my information in front of her. It's amazing how easily technology can be integrated into a well-designed system to actually allow convenience and correctness. If only CA, with all it's tech sector work and innovation, could get up off its ass like this.
That building looks like it's a revamped reject from the 50's. The interior is hideous, and formicah laden. They do everything in paper, and the counters look like something out of a bad Post Office slasher flick.
I just got my new license up here in WA on Friday. They have a number system. You walk in, talk to the nice receptionist lady, and tell her what you want. Then you get a number ticket based on what you're doing. There are 5 windows each side, for the various licensing things that need to happen. Each window is wired to the same numbering system, but the 'line' is a communal pool of chairs and each window simply takes the next pending number in the queue.
So, even after I filled out the paperwork, the awesome technology experience continued. I was assigned a terminal number off to the side, where they had a bank of touch screen computers, and the number I had (10) was waiting for me cheerily, with my name across the top. I sat down, and took the test. Had to pass 20 out of 25. Ok, so I missed two, one because I erred on the side of caution and one because I just didn't understand what they wanted for an answer. But, as soon as I got to 22 questions, it actually just stopped the test. I'd scored my requisite 20, and they didn't feel a need to make me take the last 3. Fucking awesome!
Another number assignment, another quickie trip over, to a totally different window person, and she didn't blink at all with getting my information in front of her. It's amazing how easily technology can be integrated into a well-designed system to actually allow convenience and correctness. If only CA, with all it's tech sector work and innovation, could get up off its ass like this.