At 05:07 PM 12/28/95 GMT, lull@acm.org wrote:

...

The question is: how do the current software packages handle representatives and proxies for a given is-a-person? Using PGP as an example, I can't sign a message with Helen's key. And a message signed with my key won't hold as much weight because "Dave" is not "Helen." And if every message I send on behalf of Helen has to be followed up by a message from Helen stating "yes, Dave may act on my behalf for this instance" then much of the point of the proxy process is lost. (i.e. the reduction of Helen's workload etc.) I would think a power-of-attorney, signed by Helen, would do the trick. This would normally be valid for some pre-defined period, for a pre-defined set of transactions, and would not have to be generated anew each time. That's basically the situation in the wonderful world of paper. What I'm interested in is how to handle the power-of-attorney case in the world of bits. (I've been using PGP as my example, but I'm certainly open to software that handles it better; suggestions?) Even if Helen signs my PGP key, that doesn't do anything other than connect us in the almighty Web of Trust (for whatever that's really worth).

dave ----- David E. Smith, c/o Southeast Missouri State University 1210 Towers South, Cape Girardeau MO USA 63701-4745, +1(573)339-3814 PGP ID 0x92732139, homepage http://www.midwest.net/scribers/dsmith/ Dec15-Jan15: (618)244-3340/2209 Perkins, Mt Vernon IL 62864