This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Digital Keys
Jul
24
2019
I’m not a fan of the new digital keys.
I lost a set of house keys and needed to get replacements. So I went to the nearby big-box store and had them copied.
It turns out they have a new key-copying machine.
Digital keys!
Ooooh, fancy new machine. Instead of cutting the new key by tracing the old one, it scans the old key, digitizes the information, and then uses that information to cut the new key.
One of the benefits touted by the banner next to the machine is that you never need to worry about losing the keys because the machine can save your key’s information and they can cut a new key from the file and they don’t need the old key anymore after it is scanned.
My worry is that, since this is a national chain big-box store, the key file isn’t stored just on that one machine but on the company’s servers so that key machines at any of their stores can cut any stored key. And that means if hackers get into the server they get not only names and passwords but also house keys. Not a good idea if you ask me.
I don’t need to worry about that though, because the keys are poor quality so I’m not tempted to go there anyway. In fact, I specifically go to a local store that has an old-school analog key cutter. The digital key idea isn’t bad, but they didn’t give it enough bits. The keys they copied for me are the metal equivalent of a pixelated photo. Yes, you can tell what it is supposed to be, but it is noticeably different.
And it not just looks – the blocky digital key doesn’t work as well as a normal copy. A normal key just goes it and I can turn it and the door unlocks. The digital key goes in fine but it doesn’t turn unless I get it to the exact right depth. And that takes a few tries some times. It gets annoying, especially to some younger members of the family who have not yet learned patience.
“Can I open the door?”
“Sure, here’s the key.”
“Why’s it not working?!?!”
Any, be wary of the new digital keys. Progress isn’t necessarily better.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
Matthew 16:19
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 6:44 am and has been carefully placed in the Life category.
