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A cheese sandwich
Page 7
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Don't you just love technology? From the sublime to the inevitably ridiculous, what is it about high-tech kit that makes normally sane people lose their grip on reality?
Computers can't do everything, but that doesn't stop bureaucrats from believing they can. If proof were needed of the fallibility of machines, just look at the latest description of how to beat the proposed German motorway toll system: with a cheese sandwich wrapped in foil (see page 13).
If nothing else, it shows how legislators have come to believe that the more high-tech a system is, the better it'll work. As one observer notes: "They've got plenty of technology—but that doesn't mean they need it."
Fortunately we are also running a story this week about technology that is worth investing in: WIM S. Weigh In Motion Systems (WIMS) allow enforcement authorities to detect the weight of a passing truck via sensors in the road.
Flash, bang, wallop...you're done for overloading. Well, nearly. In conjunction with AN PR, WIMS will allow VO SA to detect possible overloaders—who can then expect a little visit from the authorities.
And what is the budget for this new, high-tech project? A modest If it's not overcomplicated, WIMS should serve us well; with or without a cheese sandwich.