Physics at Albertsons
Locked
 
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So I was in the queue for the checkout, and the woman in front of me is
having problems with her Visa card - she is swiping it through the machine but nothing registers. "Do you have a plastic bag?" she says and, on being given one, she puts her Visa card in it, holds the plastic taut, swipes the card (still in the plastic bag) through the machine and bingo, it's worked. Apparently this is a technique that all the checkout staff at Albertsons are familiar with. (1) Does this technique *really* work, or was it just a fluke? (2) If it does work, why? Robert -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://constantinople.hostgo.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/attachments/20031105/114b367c/attachment.htm |
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(1) I can't speak to the physics of Albertson's, but I have seen cashiers
use a similar technique at Whole Foods, so apparently this is not a strictly local phenomenon. (2) It has almost never worked with my cards, but apparently it is an article of faith that it does work. Joe -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Robert Holmes Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:20 AM To: FRIAM Subject: [FRIAM] Physics at Albertsons So I was in the queue for the checkout, and the woman in front of me is having problems with her Visa card - she is swiping it through the machine but nothing registers. "Do you have a plastic bag?" she says and, on being given one, she puts her Visa card in it, holds the plastic taut, swipes the card (still in the plastic bag) through the machine and bingo, it's worked. Apparently this is a technique that all the checkout staff at Albertsons are familiar with. (1) Does this technique *really* work, or was it just a fluke? (2) If it does work, why? Robert -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://constantinople.hostgo.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/attachments/20031106/96dc9923/attachment.htm |
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Physics at AlbertsonsYes, it works, up to a point. At least it makes the
machine happy. I'm not clear but that it may degrade the stripe further, though. I've heard an explanation that the reader actually makes contact with the stripe and that there is a feedback mechanism between the residual static charge on the reader and the card that obscures the weakly encoded data on the card. The plastic bag isolates the reader from direct contact with the card, thus reducing the interference so the card can be read. Don't know if that's apocryphal or what. The real question is how the checkers decided on the behavior. Carl -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of joseph spinden Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 1:13 PM To: 'The Friday Morning Complexity Coffee Group' Subject: RE: [FRIAM] Physics at Albertsons (1) I can't speak to the physics of Albertson's, but I have seen cashiers use a similar technique at Whole Foods, so apparently this is not a strictly local phenomenon. (2) It has almost never worked with my cards, but apparently it is an article of faith that it does work. Joe -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Robert Holmes Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:20 AM To: FRIAM Subject: [FRIAM] Physics at Albertsons So I was in the queue for the checkout, and the woman in front of me is having problems with her Visa card - she is swiping it through the machine but nothing registers. "Do you have a plastic bag?" she says and, on being given one, she puts her Visa card in it, holds the plastic taut, swipes the card (still in the plastic bag) through the machine and bingo, it's worked. Apparently this is a technique that all the checkout staff at Albertsons are familiar with. (1) Does this technique *really* work, or was it just a fluke? (2) If it does work, why? Robert -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://constantinople.hostgo.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/attachments/20031105/d2701075/attachment-0001.htm |
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In reply to this post by Joe Spinden
Offhand, sounds like it might have to do with insulation from static
electricity. Bruce On Wednesday, November 5, 2003, at 12:13 PM, joseph spinden wrote: > (1) I can?t speak to the physics of Albertson?s, but I have seen > cashiers use a similar technique at Whole Foods, so apparently this is > not a strictly local phenomenon. > > ? > > (2) It has almost never worked with my cards, but apparently it is an > article of faith that it does work.? ? > > ? > > Joe > > ? > > ? > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On > Behalf OfRobert Holmes > Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:20 AM > To: FRIAM > Subject: [FRIAM] Physics at Albertsons > > ? > > So I was in the queue for the checkout, and the woman in front of me > is having problems with her Visa card - she is swiping it through the > machine but nothing registers. "Do you have a plastic bag?" she says > and, on being given one, she puts her Visa card in it, holds the > plastic taut, swipes the card (still in the plastic bag) through the > machine and bingo, it's worked. Apparently this is a technique that > all the checkout staff at Albertsons are familiar with. > > (1) Does this technique *really* work, or was it just a fluke? > (2) If it does work, why? > > Robert > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe > Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.: > http://www.friam.org A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 2614 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://constantinople.hostgo.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/attachments/20031105/9a867b4e/attachment.bin |
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In reply to this post by Carl Tollander-2
Here's another wierd one that seems to work - using your head as an antenna.
If you have a vehicle with a remote keyless entry, then try this: start at what you feel is about as far away from your vehicle as you can be that will still allow you to lock or unlock it, then walk further away until you can no longer activate it. Take a few more steps away just to be sure you can't activate it from that distance. Now, facing the vehicle, hold the device against your chin, open your mouth, and try to activate the lock. I've found that I can be at least half again as far from the vehicle this way, and still be able to activate the lock. |
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Does this depend on the number of fillings you have, and their type?
On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 18:26:59 -0600, [hidden email] said: > Here's another wierd one that seems to work - using your head as an > antenna. > If you have a vehicle with a remote keyless entry, then try this: start > at > what you feel is about as far away from your vehicle as you can be that > will > still allow you to lock or unlock it, then walk further away until you > can no > longer activate it. Take a few more steps away just to be sure you can't > activate it from that distance. Now, facing the vehicle, hold the device > against your chin, open your mouth, and try to activate the lock. I've > found > that I can be at least half again as far from the vehicle this way, and > still > be able to activate the lock. > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe > Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.: > http://www.friam.org Joseph Dalessandro [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Bruce Sawhill
Hi Bruce, and Friam folks.Bruce can you send me your email to [hidden email]. Hope all is well with everyone. Stu
----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Sawhill To: The Friday Morning Complexity Coffee Group Cc: Bruce Sawhill Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 4:31 PM Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Physics at Albertsons Offhand, sounds like it might have to do with insulation from static electricity. Bruce On Wednesday, November 5, 2003, at 12:13 PM, joseph spinden wrote: (1) I can?t speak to the physics of Albertson?s, but I have seen cashiers use a similar technique at Whole Foods, so apparently this is not a strictly local phenomenon. (2) It has almost never worked with my cards, but apparently it is an article of faith that it does work. Joe -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf OfRobert Holmes Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:20 AM To: FRIAM Subject: [FRIAM] Physics at Albertsons So I was in the queue for the checkout, and the woman in front of me is having problems with her Visa card - she is swiping it through the machine but nothing registers. "Do you have a plastic bag?" she says and, on being given one, she puts her Visa card in it, holds the plastic taut, swipes the card (still in the plastic bag) through the machine and bingo, it's worked. Apparently this is a technique that all the checkout staff at Albertsons are familiar with. (1) Does this technique *really* work, or was it just a fluke? (2) If it does work, why? Robert ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.: http://www.friam.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.: http://www.friam.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://constantinople.hostgo.com/pipermail/friam_redfish.com/attachments/20031108/cc5ba9de/attachment.htm |
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In reply to this post by Joseph Dalessandro
I think it's the resonant cavities.
The question is, what did he try in the parking lot before he hit upon holding the keyring by his chin with his mouth open, and how is it that he is still walking about free to tell the tale? -- rec -- Joseph Dalessandro wrote: >Does this depend on the number of fillings you have, and their type? > >On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 18:26:59 -0600, [hidden email] said: > > >>Here's another wierd one that seems to work - using your head as an >>antenna. >>If you have a vehicle with a remote keyless entry, then try this: start >>at >>what you feel is about as far away from your vehicle as you can be that >>will >>still allow you to lock or unlock it, then walk further away until you >>can no >>longer activate it. Take a few more steps away just to be sure you can't >>activate it from that distance. Now, facing the vehicle, hold the device >>against your chin, open your mouth, and try to activate the lock. I've >>found >>that I can be at least half again as far from the vehicle this way, and >>still >>be able to activate the lock. >> >>============================================================ >>FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe >>Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.: >>http://www.friam.org >> >> |
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Actually it works just as well to press the tip of the key to your forearm
and point at your car with the corresponding index finger. And you are slightly less likely to be detained. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger E Critchlow Jr" <[hidden email]> To: "The Friday Morning Complexity Coffee Group" <[hidden email]> Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 2:53 PM Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Physics at Albertsons > I think it's the resonant cavities. > > The question is, what did he try in the parking lot before he hit upon > holding the keyring by his chin with his mouth open, and how is it that > he is still walking about free to tell the tale? > > -- rec -- > > Joseph Dalessandro wrote: > > >Does this depend on the number of fillings you have, and their type? > > > >On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 18:26:59 -0600, [hidden email] said: > > > > > >>Here's another wierd one that seems to work - using your head as an > >>antenna. > >>If you have a vehicle with a remote keyless entry, then try this: start > >>at > >>what you feel is about as far away from your vehicle as you can be that > >>will > >>still allow you to lock or unlock it, then walk further away until you > >>can no > >>longer activate it. Take a few more steps away just to be sure you can't > >>activate it from that distance. Now, facing the vehicle, hold the device > >>against your chin, open your mouth, and try to activate the lock. I've > >>found > >>that I can be at least half again as far from the vehicle this way, and > >>still > >>be able to activate the lock. > >> > >>============================================================ > >>FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > >>Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe > >>Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.: > >>http://www.friam.org > >> > >> > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9AM @ Jane's Cafe > Lecture schedule, archives, unsubscribe, etc.: > http://www.friam.org |
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