Difference between revisions of "Prescriptions"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Jump to: navigation, search
(Explanation)
Line 29: Line 29:
 
[[Category:Science]]
 
[[Category:Science]]
 
[[Category:A Smarter Planet]]
 
[[Category:A Smarter Planet]]
 +
[[Category:Extra Comics]]

Revision as of 11:35, 22 April 2015

Prescriptions
Original blog post on Building a Smarter Planet: http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2009/08/1998.html
prescriptions.png

Explanation

Ambox notice.png This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Incorrect: The shorter fingerprint length doesn't represent that the actual key is only 80 characters.
If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks.

Two special A Smarter Planet comics were created by Randal after a special request from IBM's blog A Smarter Planet. They are not part of the regular numbered series of comics for xkcd's home site.

This comic references to the stereotype of doctors' handwriting being illegible, which is a very bad thing when you need a very specific medication and your pharmacy clerk can't read the numbers. Cueball is eager for his doctor to start signing his prescription digitally, as it means less paperwork and faster response time, but his enthusiasm fades when the doctor somehow manages to type in illegible handwriting. This could theoretically be done with a bad handwriting font, though most computerized forms don't allow you to change their font. The prescription number is given as "THX1138", the first film directed by George Lucas.

The RSA fingerprint given in the second panel 5e:2c:eb:ea:cc:1e:1b:ed:5f:96 is only 80 bits long, as it is expressed in hexdecimal each two characters representing a byte, which is of relatively low security.

Transcript

[Header: Good news: Doctors are finally learning to use modern security tools.]
Doctor: No need for phone verification. I've digitally signed it.
[Header: Bad news: They've somehow learned to type with terrible handwriting.]
[A close up of the document given to the patient by the doctor]:
Prescription THX1138 RSA fingerprint:
[in nearly unintelligible characters]: 5e:2c:eb:ea:cc:1e:1b:ed:5f:96


comment.png add a comment! ⋅ comment.png add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ Icons-mini-action refresh blue.gif refresh comments!

Discussion

I separated A Smarter Planet into two pages. One for each comic in the series.--17jiangz1 (talk) 12:54, 10 April 2015 (UTC)

Great --Kynde (talk) 14:03, 26 October 2016 (UTC)