But Mr Clayton said the recent row over search data released by AOL showed that identification of users could still be made even without a machine's unique IP address.

BBC: NEWS | Technology | Privacy bodies back Google step

But among the tasks the machine can perform in a single step are edge detection, inversion, the identification of lines and shapes of different orientations, and the filling-in of concave shapes all things that are useful in image-processing, and not all of which can be managed by digital technology.

ECONOMIST: Analogue computing

The victim's card is apparently kept by the machine and the thief steps in and offers to help but asks the person to type in their Personal Identification Number (PIN).

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