Login Help Session Overview

  1. How do I create an account so that I can see the readings? What if I do not have an mit.edu email account or certificate?
  2. Where can I go to find more information about Touchstone?
  3. Why is my browser asking me to add an exception? What does "Downloading Certificate" mean?
  4. What if I still can not log in? (Troubleshooting)

How do I create an account so that I can see the readings? What if I do not have an mit.edu email address or certificate?

In order to see the readings you must first create a Touchstone logon account. Note that you do not need to have an mit.edu email address, or an MIT certificate, to create this account or to see the readings. After you create the Touchstone account, the site administrator will assign your logon permission to see the readings.

First, you must ENABLE COOKIES on your browser. The login system, called Touchstone, uses cookies to help manage login information. Once you have enabled cookies, follow these instructions:

  1. Open the Seminar XXI home page in your browser.
  2. On the Seminar XXI home page, click the left-hand nav button that says "Log in for readings". Result: you are taken to the Touchstone interface.
  3. Select "Touchstone Collaboration Account" from the drop-down list.
  4. Click "not registered" to set up a login account using Touchstone. USE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU UPDATED WITH SEMINAR XXI.
  5. Create an account. Enter all required information.
  6. Click "Activate Account".
  7. Open your email account to retrieve the Touchstone notification email. Open the email and click the link indicated to confirm your ID.
  8. Enter the Activation Code in the Touchstone screen.

If you are an Alumnus of Seminar XXI, email the site administrator at semxxi@mit.edu to tell her the email address you used to log in, so that she can give you access to the alumni page.

Where can I go to find more information about Touchstone?

http://web.mit.edu/touchstone/www/index.html has detailed notes about the secure logon system, and information about troubleshooting.

Why is my browser asking me to add an exception?
What does "Downloading Certificate" mean?

The Touchstone system works, in part, by placing a certificate on the computer requesting access to the secure system. This certificate allows the secure site to recognize the requesting computer on future visits. Seminar XXI is working to enable the site to recognize visitors without requiring repeated certificate approval.

What if I still can not log in?

  1. Missing or incorrect username or password:
    To authenticate to MIT Touchstone, you must provide both your username and its password. If you have forgotten your username or password or need other assistance with them, please contact the IS&T Help Desk at 617.253.1101 or email computing-help@mit.edu.
  2. Enabling cookies on your web browser:
    The MIT Touchstone system requires that your web browser accept "cookies," small files that web servers send to your computer. MIT Touchstone uses cookies for security and verification. Having a cookie for an MIT Touchstone web site identifies you to the site and allows you to continue from one page of the site to another without having to login each time. You can usually enable cookies in the Settings or Preferences dialog of your browser.
  3. Time expired before you were able to login:
    You must enter your username and password within 5 minutes of the MIT Touchstone page loading in your browser window. After that time has elapsed, you must re-initiate the request for the web page or service you want to access by re-entering the URL in the address bar or by returning to the original site which first asked you to authenticate. Reloading the MIT Touchstone login page will not work, as you must be directed to the MIT Touchstone login page from your original application due to technology limitations.
  4. Seminar XXI may not know that your account has been created.
    Email the Seminar XXI site administrator at semxxi@mit.edu to say that you have registered and would like to access the readings. Be sure to include the email address you used to create your Touchstone account.