There is furnished a method for providing an individual temporary access to a commonly accessible computer processing system (CA computer). 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.