Contactless verification is making its way to college campuses

[Shawn Knight]

Forward-looking: Bringing the student ID into the digital age feels like something that should have happened years ago. Nevertheless, it's here now and assuming these pilot programs are successful, we'll likely see support expanded to additional campuses and device types in the coming years.

Students at Duke University, the University of Alabama and the University of Oklahoma can add their student IDs to Apple Wallet and use their iPhone or Apple Watch in place of their physical ID card both on and off campus.

Apple announced support for contactless student ID cards in Wallet on Tuesday, citing it as an easy, convenient and secure experience. Cupertino is working with educational technology company Blackboard on the NFC-enabled contactless technology.

Anyone that has spent time on campus knows that the student ID card is an integral part of campus life. Most schools use ID cards as a way for students to access residence halls, pay for meals, get into football games and so on. With digital IDs, students will have one less thing to keep track of.

It makes a lot of sense for Apple to work with higher education institutes to expand its Wallet program as young people are often early adopters of technology.

Students at the aforementioned schools can use digital ID cards starting today while those at Santa Clara, Johns Hopkins and Temple Universities will have capabilities added by the end of the year. If successful (and I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t be), expect digital ID cards to make their way to more campus in the near future.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/76724-contactless-verification-making-way-college-campuses.html

 

[senketsu]

Physical phone, physical watch, physical ID card. Hmmmm
"students have one less thing to keep track of". Can't really see how

 

[oldikes]

Physical phone, physical watch, physical ID card. Hmmmm
"students have one less thing to keep track of". Can't really see how

...their physical id card.

 

[GreenNova343]

Physical phone, physical watch, physical ID card. Hmmmm
"students have one less thing to keep track of". Can't really see how

...their physical id card.

It still gets issued to them...& if they didn't back it up into the cloud, they'll have to refer to the card if they have to replace a broken smartphone/smartwatch.

Which brings up all sorts of security issues, of course...

 

[p51d007]

More indoctrination...get you use to it.
For your "convenience" Sadly, we all go along with it, to an extent.
Debit cards instead of cash, contactless payments, Face ID unlock,
TSA body scans...all just getting everyone use to the idea.

 

[senketsu]

Physical phone, physical watch, physical ID card. Hmmmm
"students have one less thing to keep track of". Can't really see how

...their physical id card.

if the watch or phone replaces the card and you don't have it, it is no different than not having the card. Few people wear watches anymore because their phone gives the time so I put my card in my wallet which I always have and good to go! Frankly I don't want anything important on my phone in case of breakage, loss or theft/hack
edit: I'm all for freedom of choice, but this seems like making something simple very technical (readers etc)

 

[Mister_K]

Physical phone, physical watch, physical ID card. Hmmmm
"students have one less thing to keep track of". Can't really see how

Huh, it's in an application, you can leave your ID card and have it in a virtual wallet. ALL ID should be available through a digital pass, I hate carrying my wallet, on more thing to worry about loosing.

 

[Mister_K]

Physical phone, physical watch, physical ID card. Hmmmm
"students have one less thing to keep track of". Can't really see how

...their physical id card.

if the watch or phone replaces the card and you don't have it, it is no different than not having the card. Few people wear watches anymore because their phone gives the time so I put my card in my wallet which I always have and good to go! Frankly I don't want anything important on my phone in case of breakage, loss or theft/hack
edit: I'm all for freedom of choice, but this seems like making something simple very technical (readers etc)

You can loose your card as well, it's the same principal. Wallet is just an additional physical baggage.

Having payments in virtual wallet, ID like passport, driving license, proof of identity, membership, clubcards, discount cards, loyalty cards all that **** on a phone makes more sense and does decrease the chances of loss, one less thing to track since its all virtual on ONE device that you have to worry about.

 

[Mister_K]

More indoctrination...get you use to it.
For your "convenience" Sadly, we all go along with it, to an extent.
Debit cards instead of cash, contactless payments, Face ID unlock,
TSA body scans...all just getting everyone use to the idea.

Yes and moon landing was fake, America did 9/11, Area 51 is hiding aliens, Earth is flat, Chem trails are real.

Think you need your tinfoil hat.

 

[mailpup]

You can loose your card as well, it's the same principal. Wallet is just an additional physical baggage.

Having payments in virtual wallet, ID like passport, driving license, proof of identity, membership, clubcards, discount cards, loyalty cards all that **** on a phone makes more sense and does decrease the chances of loss, one less thing to track since its all virtual on ONE device that you have to worry about.

Losing your smartphone isn't the only potential hazard. If you drop it and damage it or if your battery dies, you could lose access to your I.D. and other cards at least for awhile. On the other hand you presumably still have your original documents safely stored somewhere at home. It's just that there are other downsides besides just losing the smartphone.

 

[senketsu]

Physical phone, physical watch, physical ID card. Hmmmm
"students have one less thing to keep track of". Can't really see how

...their physical id card.

if the watch or phone replaces the card and you don't have it, it is no different than not having the card. Few people wear watches anymore because their phone gives the time so I put my card in my wallet which I always have and good to go! Frankly I don't want anything important on my phone in case of breakage, loss or theft/hack
edit: I'm all for freedom of choice, but this seems like making something simple very technical (readers etc)

You can loose your card as well, it's the same principal. Wallet is just an additional physical baggage.

Having payments in virtual wallet, ID like passport, driving license, proof of identity, membership, clubcards, discount cards, loyalty cards all that **** on a phone makes more sense and does decrease the chances of loss, one less thing to track since its all virtual on ONE device that you have to worry about.

I can understand your view since most people carry a phone around, but there are too many downsides for me at the current moment, phones require frequent charging, break easily, are easier to steal than wallets, plus the big one is phones have very poor security. I don't have anything 'sensitive' on my phone and will not for the foreseeable future. Even before I adopted this view I found I used the phone's capabilities very little, phone, text, pictures and that's it. I also despise carrying the damn thing, my wallet doesn't fall out of my pocket and break, never needs charging, I can sit on it and it doesn't bend/break and it fits in pockets better. Each to his own

 

[p51d007]

Yes and moon landing was fake, America did 9/11, Area 51 is hiding aliens, Earth is flat, Chem trails are real.

Think you need your tinfoil hat.

Nope, we DID indeed land on the moon, the Earth is ROUND, chem trails are fake
9/11 was real, area 51 is a ruze....but the cashless society will be real.

 

[Mister_K]

Losing your smartphone isn't the only potential hazard. If you drop it and damage it or if your battery dies, you could lose access to your I.D. and other cards at least for awhile. On the other hand you presumably still have your original documents safely stored somewhere at home. It's just that there are other downsides besides just losing the smartphone.

There are always workarounds on this. If I loose my passport I am more anally ****ed than if I loose my mobile (depending on device price obvs).

Why? Goodluck getting your passport redone, specially if you are living abroad, it will take ages. However buy another phone, enter backup codes and log into your secure Digital Wallet, job done, you have your IDs back.

Unless its all 2FA and device based, then you might have problems getting your data back quickly, otherwise buy a new phone and do steps in paragraph 2.

I have lost more wallets than phones. However battery and charging is the key problem with moving onto paperless/cashless society. Having good case will protect your phone many times. 9 cat lives easy.

 

[Mister_K]

Nope, we DID indeed land on the moon, the Earth is ROUND, chem trails are fake
9/11 was real, area 51 is a ruze....but the cashless society will be real.

It will be and I cannot wait for that day. It is, a step in the right direction. Too many different IDs, money etc... I want it all in one place without making my pockets bulk out due to thicc wallet.

 

[Mister_K]

I can understand your view since most people carry a phone around, but there are too many downsides for me at the current moment, phones require frequent charging, break easily, are easier to steal than wallets, plus the big one is phones have very poor security. I don't have anything 'sensitive' on my phone and will not for the foreseeable future. Even before I adopted this view I found I used the phone's capabilities very little, phone, text, pictures and that's it. I also despise carrying the damn thing, my wallet doesn't fall out of my pocket and break, never needs charging, I can sit on it and it doesn't bend/break and it fits in pockets better. Each to his own

People loose wallets too, loose contents of wallets since quite a lot to keep track of. I have lost more wallets and IDs than I have ever lost phones or completely damaged my phones (recently ****ed my S8+ so bad I couldnt use the touch on it, so yeah that ****ed me up bad).

Yes phone needs charging but majority most of us always have at least 10%. Ok you might be on the night out and you can't go into a club/bar since your phone died and all your ID/payments are on there. Yep that is a problem, or if you are hiking/travelling. This is the BIGGEST concern and if going anywhere remote a good idea is paper documents + battery pack.

Theft sure but again it happens to wallets too and even loss due to negligence.

Damage, well that is a personal negligence problem. I wouldn't count that as a cons, if you bend your phone or it falls out your pocket, then its your problem. Should have paid better attention or use a case.

Security, mmm, well it's better security than your credit card numbers being available as soon as you pickup the card. Infact 2FA, master passwords, biometrics are a fairly strong way to protect a phone. You can always root the phone and attempt to extract data that way and majority of your average joes are gonna be ****ed (simple passwords, no 2FA). If you have 2FA however, chances are very slim that you are going to be compromised. Majority of your generic theifs are *****s. Unless obviously, people get into your phone and have access to 2FA.

Phone is 1 item, a wallet is 1 item + 28937827 of other bullshit cards and money you will be packing with you.

 

[p51d007]

It will be and I cannot wait for that day. It is, a step in the right direction. Too many different IDs, money etc... I want it all in one place without making my pockets bulk out due to thicc wallet.

Not sure where you live, but I don't want to see the day cash goes away. Sadly, eventually everywhere will be some sort of "government" healthcare. Once cash goes away, say you are at a fast food joint and try to buy something. BBBBZZZZZZ sorry, not allowed. Your last checkup showed you were overweight & high blood pressure, eat a salad that is approved. Go try to buy a sports car. BBBZZZZZZZ sorry, it doesn't get good mileage, and you've had to many speeding tickets according to GPS, but, you can buy this battery car that costs twice as much, and 1/2 the range.
Don't think it can't happen.

 

[Mister_K]

Not sure where you live, but I don't want to see the day cash goes away. Sadly, eventually everywhere will be some sort of "government" healthcare. Once cash goes away, say you are at a fast food joint and try to buy something. BBBBZZZZZZ sorry, not allowed. Your last checkup showed you were overweight & high blood pressure, eat a salad that is approved. Go try to buy a sports car. BBBZZZZZZZ sorry, it doesn't get good mileage, and you've had to many speeding tickets according to GPS, but, you can buy this battery car that costs twice as much, and 1/2 the range.
Don't think it can't happen.

That is very dystopian view of the world and while really affecting our "freedom" would that be a such a bad idea? I do get the point you are making, but I doubt that would be the case.

They could do that with society that still uses cash anyway (restricting things). If you try and go buy a brand new car in the UK you will go through checks and if its on finance deal, this will already happen.

As long as there is option for both, what's the worst that can happen. Unfortunately technology is still behind for most things being app/mobile based.