[LINK] A card that may change all our lives

[Eric Scheid]

Did we all read in the weekend papers about Carr's wonderful new 
electronic payment card he's got plans for?

>A card that may change all our lives
>EXCLUSIVE By chief writer NATHAN VASS
>12aug01
>A REVOLUTIONARY commuter "smartcard" with the potential to create a 
>cashless society in Sydney will be introduced by the State Government.

<http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,2566711%255
E701,00.html>

>This means one card will pay for bus, train and ferry trips, highway 
>tolls, groceries, retail goods, online shopping, phone and utility bills, 
>movie and concert tickets, traffic fines and professional services.

all sounding fine, except maybe the penultimate item listed... which 
raises a red flag when I then read:

>"The smartcard will not need to be removed from a wallet or bag, it only 
>needs to pass the validator, which will signal acceptance of the fare

and also

>They can be linked to a bank account so the card automatically "tops up" 
>without the user ever having to go to a bank. The card could also become a 
>driver's licence and Medicare card. 

I wonder if the identification details will be automatically released and 
handed over by the ticket scanners? I can't wait for the targeted 
advertising in my mail box.

Panic starts to then set in when a few pages further into the paper I 
find 

>Revealed: Sydney's greediest speed cameras
<http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,2566643%255
E3163,00.html>

I imagine a dark future where a ticket inspector will walk up and down 
the train, and by virtue of being in scanning range automatically issue 
fines for not having a valid ticket. A quick stroll, without the 
inconvenience of actually stopping and investigating, and the gummint 
raises more revenue.

e.

______________________________________________________________________
eric@ironclad.net.au                 i r o n c l a d   n e t w o r k s
information architect                      http://www.ironclad.net.au/