One of the more unusual bits of Barbie Typewriter lore was that in at least one instance, an ultra-right wing terrorist cell based in Northern Ireland was using these for communication[1].
No indication if the cell was utilizing the "encryption" capabilities of the Barbie typewriter or just putting it to work as the cheapest, most disposable means of conveying demands but the Barbie logo makes an amusing juxtaposition to the operator's violent history (including 72(!) prior convictions). Every time this story surfaces, part of me wants to believe that someone somewhere is still using substitution cyphers for serious ends.
and now i have the mental image of a stereotypical terrorist, with a black ski mask and a kalashnikov on a strap on his back, hunched over his pink-and-purple barbie typewriter. amazing. thank you
No indication if the cell was utilizing the "encryption" capabilities of the Barbie typewriter or just putting it to work as the cheapest, most disposable means of conveying demands but the Barbie logo makes an amusing juxtaposition to the operator's violent history (including 72(!) prior convictions). Every time this story surfaces, part of me wants to believe that someone somewhere is still using substitution cyphers for serious ends.
[1] https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/jai...