Coming Soon: So Long Library Card, Just Scan Using Your Phone
We've posted several times about how in the future (and the future is today in some casrs), users will be able to flash a code on their mobile device screen and board a plane or train, purchase a product, or even checkout books from a library using a cameraphone.
The San Francisco Business Journal reports that Sprint is allowing a small group of riders to pay for train rides on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) using their cell phones.
The public transit agency is experimenting with specially equipped Sprint mobile phones that riders use to pay for a trip. The phones contain a microchip that stores value like a debit card. The value is subtracted when users swipe the phone over optical readers atop BART fare gates. Users can add value to the chips with a credit card.
We don't think it will be too long before library materials will be able to be checked-out using a phone (for those who have them). Just scan with your cameraphone and go. At the same time the user will be able to see what they have checked-out, it's due date, overdue fees, perhaps related materials of interest, etc. all in a single location no matter where they are located. They will also be able to download or stream a/v materials directly to their mobile. device.
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