there is furnished a method for providing an individual temporary access to a commonly accessible computer processing system . the ca computer has a plurality of application programs associated therewith . the method includes the step of detecting the coupling of a portable storage device to the ca computer . the storage device has stored therein an access code for indicating whether the user is authorized to temporarily access the ca computer and information including computing preferences of the individual . it is determined whether the individual is authorized to temporarily access the ca computer , based on the access code . the ca computer is modified in accordance with the information stored in the storage device and temporary access is provided to the ca computer , when the individual is authorized to temporarily access the ca computer . the activity of at least one of the individual and the ca computer is monitored , until the storage device is de - coupled from the ca computer . a bill is generated based on the monitoring . the bill is automatically provided to a predetermined billing mechanism .