Or so we're led to believe.
Ez link cards. debit cards. credit cards. membership cards. prepaid cards. top up cards. name cards. and the list goes on.
It's like we'll never get tired of owning plastic. Which is ironic, cause we're trying to save the earth and reduce the amount of paper used by increasing the amount of plastic.
But I don't think the future is in cards. I think the next step is for shops or restaurants who has membership cards to virtualize it. Show an app or scan it in to get your member discounts. Or even simply key in the member's IC number.
The problem with apps is that no one knows which OS to create it for. Apple, android, windows, RIM or symbian? Why not just make em all? After all, there won't be any new OS coming out soon. and even if there were, it wouldn't survive long. Unless it's open-source. But that would bring about security issues.
So. an app would be nice. Or perhaps a gadget that can absorb all such membership information. Imagine a small device like a dongle. It has a usb chip on it, that can be accessed at shops and restaurants. Companies upload its information onto it. You simply scan some unique barcode on it and the restaurant or shop will automatically tag in the discount for you. Like a universal card reader, only we are not talking about memory cards.
What do ya think?
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