Can I also see my own information please?
I am quite annoyed at the airports because of all the security check points. It’s just tiring to disassemble myself and belongings, walk 2 meters, and reassemble. However, I realized that I am even more annoyed at passport/document check points in most countries.
When I enter/exit a country, a lovely officer checks my passport and documents. And looking at my passport, they enter some numbers in the computer. It’s okay until here, they need to check if the passport is real, my documentation has official basis etc. The thing that really bothers me is that I cannot see what’s on the screen. I cannot see what the officer is looking at, and seeing what’s about me. The officer’s monitor is equipped with the screen privacy filter. I cannot see my own information unless I am sitting at the officer’s seat.
A privacy filter protecting my information from me. This makes me really uncomfortable, I feel like I am a potential suspect. This is like being in an investigation room. You are a potential suspect and someone (who you cannot see) behind the one-way mirror is identifying you.
I think I should also be able to see what the officer is looking at, so that this is a much more mutual social transaction. He does his job, I travel with less stress.
Photo credit: Shingo
Then again, let’s take your example and put it towards another person.
Let’s call this guy Terrorist A. Now, Terrorist A is coming into a country like you, but he has some shady info on him.
Now let’s further suppose that he didn’t know about said shady info. He thinks he’s in the green as far as any criminal activies are concerned. Quite the contrary, and the agencies want to keep it secret, hoping he’ll make a blunder somewheres.
Now would you really want to see what that officer has on their screen? Would you really want that in the situation above? I know it’s a bit extreme, but my point is that those things are in place for a reason. You know who you are, and as long as you got the documentation to PROVE it, you should have nothing to fear. Smile at the lovely officer and say “Thanks!” in whatever language they speak. Move on.
Though I do agree with you about the security checkpoints. Chicago traffic moves better. Bleh.
@Sai Wolf, thanks for your input. I don’t know much about Chicago traffic, but I entertain myself by imagining I am having a pit-stop when I go through security checkpoints
The scenario you are describing indeed might be the basis for how passport checkpoint process is handled. After reading your comment, however, I understand that it is important to make the distinction of the elements of information: input as the traveller provides, the interface, and the interpretation/conclusion.
My information could be visible to me while the officer’s inquiry interface is private. I could see just the input and progress information. There are ways of displaying information entered, and showing progress without revealing output. To take it one step further:
What information is entered? This would be the most base level of information I could see. Metaphorically, similar to a progress bar one would see in a computer, an indication of something is happening in the background, along with basic feedback such as Entering name, last name into the system.
How the information is used? This is again a matter of displaying process. For example: Retrieving visa documentation, Checking address information, Reviewing travel history. These indications would tell me how my information is being processed.
Until here, the system is reflecting input and is not giving output. I am getting realtime feedback on the progress, which is a necessity in any information system. Looking back at your scenario, there is no sensitive information displayed thus far. The traveller is informed, no secrets revealed.
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