Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus.
Editor
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Robert Flynn
Rick Walters
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Advertising Enquiries
Leo Simpson
Phone (02) 9979 5644
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ
Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed
John Hill
Jim Lawler, MTETIA
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
Jim Yalden, VK2YGY
Bob Young
Photography
Stuart Bryce
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All
material copyright ©. No part of
this publication may be reproduced
without the written consent of the
publisher.
Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo,
NSW.
Distribution: Network Distribution
Company.
Subscription rates: $49 per year
in Australia. For overseas rates, see
the subscription page in this issue.
Editorial & advertising offices:
Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie
wood, NSW 2102. Postal address:
PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW
2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax
(02) 9979 6503.
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
Caller ID – now you
won't be anonymouse
If all goes to plan, Telecomm & Optus
will shortly introduce "caller number identification", a system which allows people
to identify who is calling them before they
answer the phone. The system displays
the caller's number of a small LCD screen
attached to the phone. Already available in
America, it could have been introduced in
Australia two years ago but was withdrawn
because of concerns about possible breaches
of privacy.
Well now the system is to get another run and is expected to be submitted to the
privacy committe of Austel at about the time this issue goes to press. No doubt there
will be bleeding hearts about privacy but as far as I am concerned they've got it
wrong. CND will be a boon to people who want privacy – from people who phone.
How many times have you been in the middle of a meal and you've had a call
from someone doing a marketing survey? How many times have you picked up the
phone and answered it, only to have the person on the other end drop the receiver
in the cradle? How many people are bothered by nuisance callers whether they be
obscene, disgruntled business clients or whatever? Wouldn't it be nice to put a stop
to all that? It should stop hoax calls to the police, ambulance and fire brigade too.
Some people worried about the way in which Caller ID might be used by business
who would enter every caller into a database, Well, what do they think happens
now with enquiries to businesses? And it could have the benefit of stopping
some forms of fraud. For our part at Silicon Chip, we would prefer to know who
is calling us, and being able to record the number, so that we could always call
them back if we needed to. You'd be suprised how often people give the wrong
address details by mistake.
Of course, caller identification is already in use on fax machines and there is
no reason it should not be extended to the whole populace. The benefits outweigh
the concerns of those who want to retain their anonymity when they are making
calls. I should also point out that you will have to pay extra if you want the caller
identication system on your phone. Telecom & Optus expect to make money from
the service, otherwise they would not want to introduce it.
The crucial point about Caller ID is that it is likely to be a blanket system
in which every caller has the potential of being identified by the person being
phoned, unless he or she informs the telephone company that they want to be
out. That means when they ring some people, thye take the risk that they won't
be answered. And, further into the future, it could become a condition of doing
business over the phone – think about the implications if that. Persons electing
to opt out may well be shut out!
And while we're on the subject of phones, please note that the numbers of Silicon Chip will change from the 8th of July, as part of the phase number changes
that will eventually affect all Australians. Our new phone number is (02) 9979
5644, while the fax number is (02) 9979 5603.
Leo Simpson
ISSN 1030-2662
WARNING!
SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should
be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the
instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with
mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages,
you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed
or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON
CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of
any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government
regulations and by-laws.
Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act
1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable.
2 Silicon Chip
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