My experiences with technology in California have been mixed. During the purchase process for our condo, all of the signing, including the final closing, was completed electronically, great for a long-distance purchase. Our documents, including the copious set for the homeowners association, are accessible online. I rate this Useful and Helpful.

One of my first west-coast-homeowner chores was to set up an account with PG&E. While waiting on hold, the robovoice informed me that this was easily accomplished with an app. True! I manage my account online, and we seem to have electricity, gas, and utility bills. I have never spoken to a PG&E employee, though I got a welcome message on vmail. Same assessment.

The Santa Cruz library system has an interlibrary loan setup very similar to that of the Middlesex Library Network, but their automated book checkout is quite different. You really have to see it–note the counter behind it, which gives a clue as to its size:

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This machine is well-marked and fairly easy to use, and certainly gets points for appearance! It is identical to the Middlesex system in that the steps are to scan the library card barcode and the book barcode, ie, the same functionality in a larger space using more energy. I rate this A Step Too Far. Those who pay library fines by credit card may disagree.

If you need to go to the registry, make an appointment online. Sounds amazing, at least to Massachusetts residents, right? However, this only allows you to skip the intake line and receive the piece of paper that sorts you by transaction type; after that, the process is identical. So the main advantage is a smug feeling as you walk past the no-appointment intake line. That feeling disappears quickly when you realize these lines are served in turn by the same person, at least at the Capitola registry. I rate this Needs Improvement.

My husband’s quite small company leases three rooms on the ninth floor of a very modern building in downtown San Jose, and I got to visit it last weekend.

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 Card swipes track every move of employees and their cars. To use the elevator bank, swipe the card to see a touchscreen display of the floors you may visit, which in his case are his company’s floor and the floor the gym is on. Touch the floor you want and the screen will direct you to a specific elevator, Elevator B in our case. Inside, there are no buttons; the doors close, and the elevator takes you to the selected floor. I’m sure corporate tenants feel this system offers comprehensive building security. For me, it inspired lively speculation about how to circumvent it. I rate this Big Brother’s Splashy Cocoon.

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