OpenID is an excellent thing, but it still seems too complicated to explain to a consumer. Getting the BBC involved in sorting that problem out can only be a good thing. Lots of cool openid stuff from Simon Willison over here: http://simonwillison.net/tags/openid/ J
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Simon Cobb Sent: 05 June 2007 07:30 To: backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk Subject: [backstage] openID on the BBC Did anyone else see this article on openID? http://www.nik.com.au/archives/2007/03/12/openid-too-many-providers-not- enough-consumers/ (Suddenly I've got the fear that this HAS already been done here- too many lists to remember! - anyway I shall plough on as if it hadn't) The article's basic thrust, as I understand it, is that whilst openID is A Good Thing, there aren't enough sites offering to be merely 'consumers' of openID. Most don't want users signing in with details that are locked to an alternative service, they wish to control users' personal data. But it struck me that the BBC is positioned to take advantage of openID since it doesn't have any commercial motivation to lock "customers" in. And further, it allows uers to choose which authentication provider they want, promoting user choice and lastly, it means the amount of personal data the BBC gathers is reduced. In return this could drive uptake of openID as other sites see a major broadcaster using it. Of course, for those folks who don't have an account with any other openID provider, they can use a proprietary BBC authentication system (lets call it "SSO", heh). I can only see advantages to deploying openID on the BBC - have I missed something?