Numbers and the human/laptop interface

In case you inform me your ID quantity, your telephone quantity or the wiring directions on your checking account, not solely will I neglect them, I’ll want you to repeat it a couple of instances so I write it down with out making a transcription error.

Once we first began utilizing serial numbers (the Roman Legion did this 1000’s of years in the past, and the British Board of Ordnance required it by regulation within the 1700s), it made excellent sense. Concern the following quantity on the checklist and transfer on.

However numbers alone are tough for people to error examine and deal with. So we use computer systems to assist. The issue lies within the pesky people who’re nonetheless a part of the chain.

So, right here’s a easy hack. It’s unlikely to catch on worldwide, however I feel it’s fascinating sufficient to think about…

In case you had a checklist of 150 three letter phrases, all chosen to be straightforward to say, spell and discern, you possibly can use them to exchange numbers in a productive and helpful method.

So, massive bob zap automobile cat is 5 phrases subsequent to one another. There are 75 billion combos of 5 phrases, which signifies that it replaces a quantity like 4839450381 with room to spare.

For ATMs which might be 4 or 5 digits, you solely want three phrases.

Take into consideration that the following time it’s worthwhile to inform a customer support individual your order quantity or serial quantity, or share a wifi password.

Let the pc do the work.

March 24, 2026