CNN iReport

Microsoft and the meaning of numbers

Today I was connected on phone to a Microsoft employee, whom I had to give my product key in order to activate my system. I live alone, and again this morning, the first one I talked to was a woman at the Amsterdam Microsoft Office, named Diana. Listening to Diana, my thoughts were slowly influenced by the numbers I had to fill in on my activation window. As I filled in the numbers, given in sequences of 3, I was listening to a soft and warm woman voice. First, she was spelling me 143, which gave me an idea of her personal live, her husband and child maybe. Then she continued 921, while I thought of her personally, her age and her expectations about life. And she continued 376, which sounded to me as if something had changed or would change soon in her life. Then she said 214, and I thought of my own life at the moment without any boundaries, plans or expectations. She continued by saying 736 and as I filled it in, her voice gave me a happy feeling I will save the rest of the day. The last group of digits was 482, as if  my new product key was solidly locked. Then she said goodbye and I thanked her for the key while I hung up, activated my Windows XP and restarted my computer one more time. Sorry Microsoft, if my experience on numbers bothers you in generating new random digits.

WM Young

The Netherlands