Social Security in the Digital Age

On Friday, I went to one of the Social Security Administration offices in New York. I was told to take a number from the machine and sit down to wait my turn. I expected that, similarly to most other places where you are asked to take a number (e.g., DMV), my number would eventually appear on some digital screen and a computer voice would direct me to the correct counter a la "Now serving number B22 at counter number 5." Well, it didn't quite work this way. Instead, as a counter opened up, the person behind the counter would shout out the next number in line (which most of us in the waiting area would not be able to hear since she didn't speak into a microphone/loudspeaker). Then this number would be repeated by the security guard standing in the waiting area for everyone to hear. Talk about taking advantage of modern technology. At that rate, they might as well have just handed us hand-written numbers. In fact, my experience there reminded me quite a bit of my visits to administrative agencies in Bulgaria. Well, minus the constant complaining that you get back home.