The requirement that official documents be signed is about as old as writing itself and continues to show up in nearly every new form that needs to be completed. Why are we asked to sign off on documents that we have completed. There appears to be three separate reasons:
- Tells the reader that the writer did in fact intend the meaning of every word (and number written in the document.
- Prevents the writer from claiming at a later time that someone else must have written the document. (Either the writer recognizes the signature or a handwriting expert can provide evidence of its authenticity.)
- Reminds the writer that anyone can determine his or her identity and therefore care should be taken to avoid any incorrect or inappropriate material.
If the above is why we sign off, then why do we sign on. In effect the sign on required to enter an information technology network or an specific application is a modern day version of a pen and ink signature. The three basic reasons still apply. A computer system sign-on also has an additional purpose:
- Only those individuals with a recognized user name and password can gain access to network, application or special function protected by the password.
And the computer sign-on also has some very important features (provided passwords are kept secret):
- The exact identity of the person signing on can be easily determined.
- The precise day and time of a sign-on can also be determined and recorded.
- Extra sign-ons can be required to specifically record the entry of a user into a specific function or sector of an application.
Did you ever wonder why you were asked sign-off so many places on a legal document or sign-on so many times during a single computer session? To discuss any puzzling examples, simply conact Stu on Patrol.
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