On the new spy series Covert Affairs, Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham) is a good guy to have watching your back. A Technical Operations Officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Auggie provides invaluable assistance to new recruit Annie Walker (Piper Perabo), despite the fact that he is legally blind.
From Special Ops to Tech Ops
Originally a member of a Special Ops team stationed in Iraq, Auggie made a bad judgment call that, in his words, turned him into Ray Charles. Now stationed at CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA, Auggie is a fixture in the computer room, at least until Annie needs his help out in the field. For his normal day-to-day duties, Anderson uses a mechanical Braille reader that lets him read computer displays by touch.
While at work, Auggie is practically never without his Grado RS2 Headphones, a favorite accessory of audiophiles because of their ingenious wooden earpieces. Anderson tells Annie that he uses his headphones to get immediate feedback on his typing or to simply listen to his favorite band, Mingus. Auggie also carries a talking watch and a cutting-edge, experimental laser “cane” that helps him navigate the halls of the CIA.
Living on Technical Operations Salary
According to the official CIA website, Technical Operations Officers make $60,669 – $89,365 per year, depending on their years of service and experience. Because he joined the CIA while he still had his sight, Auggie has served long enough to be at the top of his pay scale, especially since he can afford a $500 pair of high-end Grado RS2’s.
CIA Headquarters is located in Langley, a community in the affluent city of McLean, VA. According to City-Data.com, the median 2008 apartment rent in McLean was $1456; condos and townhomes were priced significantly higher. A ladies man, Auggie definitely is a popular guy at the local watering holes, but renting an apartment in McLean would take a large bite out of his take-home pay. Anderson probably saves money by living in a less-expensive Washington suburb or, as his friend Annie does, he may stay with relatives.
Auggie and His Credit Cards
Because it is difficult to identify different denominations of U.S. currency by touch without first labeling or folding the bills, many blind consumers prefer to use credit cards instead of cash. Even with technological improvements, many automated teller machines and point-of-sales terminals are not equipped with audio prompts or other cues for the sightless. This leaves many people vulnerable to scams and financial fraud.
For a busy working people like Auggie, a designer named Yongsuk Kim came up with a concept for a Braille credit card that contains both Braille readouts and a built-in speaker. Sight-impaired shoppers would have two ways to double-check exactly how much their credit card has been charged for a purchase.
As a technophile and a CIA Agent, Auggie would be first in line to get a Braille credit card as soon as they are commercially available. In the meantime, Auggie will have to rely on trusted friends when he uses his credit cards at stores and only use ATM’s that have convenient audio jacks where he can plug in his trusty Grado headphones.
Steven Bryan
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