The United Kingdom Government is breaking with tradition and implementing electronic versions of the traditional red boxes for ministers. On the outside, the new boxes look very much like the current models, but when they are opened instead of a bundle of official papers, there is a lap-top computer. The government says the hardware is not important as it is customized with the security features. The new red boxes are just prototypes at the moment and will really come into play when the government gets its Cab-e-net intranet up and running in the next two to three months. Public Service Minister Doctor David Clark believes the boxes will revolutionize the way the government operates, allowing reductions in time and costs. Although the traditional boxes are quite large in computing terms, the next generation will be reduced in size to around the same size as the lap top machine and eventually will be as small as up and coming hand held devices. With the boxes holding sensitive and often classified information, security was a priority when the technical development was carried out. The government enlisted the help of Surrey, UK based-software house Rhea International Ltd who implemented its latches security system to the boxes. Each minister with one of the new boxes has a signet ring containing a chip from Dallas Semiconductor (CI No 3,319) that contains personal identification information about the minister. The ring has to make contact with the machine which will then require the minister to identify himself or herself to the machine via finger print identification. Using voice technology from IBM Corp, the box also enables ministers to speak to it and order the distribution of documents to other ministers. Dr Clark believes the box will be used by all ministers within the next 10 years as they increasingly see the convenience that is offered by the new system. The traditional boxes are lead-lined and cost around 600 pounds, but the average cost of delivering one box to a minister’s home on the weekend is around 200 pounds. At 1,200 pounds with no delivery charges, the new boxes will prove a more cost effective alternative.
