I just received my AAM 2007 presenter information in the mail, and once again I’m struck by how often people use complete gibberish when writing about information technology.
The “Presenter Agreement” carefully explains that the AAM will be producing a “multi-media CD-ROM” of the sessions featuring live audio recordings and presentation materials. The explanation includes the following sentence:
“All PowerPoint materials are converted to PDF and are 128 bit protected on the CD-ROM securing them from any authorized use including downloading and copying.”
Now, I must confess I find myself somewhat concerned by their apparent plan to use a 128 bit encryption scheme to distribute CDs that no one will be able to read, thereby preventing all authorized use. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems to be a tremendous waste of time and money — although Heaven forfend anyone would try to download something from a CD!
Seriously, one wonders whether a) they really have no idea what they are saying; or b) they know this is complete gibberish but were simply trying to come up with some convincing prose–as many of us have done–that would assuage the intellectual property fears that tend to run rampant through the museum community.
Either way, whenever I read techno-gibberish like this (especially when it is distributed by organizations as prominent as the AAM), it reminds me of how important it is for all of us “in the know” to help educate the entire museum profession about the realities of museums and information technology.
And I wonder: where was the museum information professional who could have proofread this before it was sent out nationwide??
Best wishes to all, and see you in Chicago! 
