News

Gauteng Expands Health Smart Card Pilot Program

In Gauteng, South Africa, a pilot program is phasing in the use of health smart cards in medical facilities. The cards contain patient information, and act as a way to maintain more accurate records while reducing paperwork.

Public transit systems in Montreal and Quebec are set to begin issuing smart cards that aim to reduce fare fraud and cut down on lines at metro stations. The “Opus” smart cards feature rechargeable microchips.

The Chicago Transit Authority is testing out new smart card IDs for high school students using public transportations. The new ID cards offer speed and convenience for those riding the rails on a daily basis.

After a year-long security review, James Logan High School, in Union City, Calif., is implementing an ID program which will require all students and teachers to wear badges at all times on school grounds.

Coventry's Ricoh Arena will launch a new smartcard payment program next football season. The cashless payment cards are meant to reduce waiting periods at entry turnstiles, as well as food kiosks.

Students at the University of Chicago will receive new ID cards for the upcoming spring quarter. The new cards will feature RFID technology for improved security and convenience.

Emergency responders in White County, Ark. are being issued ID badges in preparation for future disaster relief efforts. The badges will help to identify those qualified to respond in emergency situations.

Cycling commuters who use Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) will soon be able to store their bikes in special "e-lockers" before boarding a train. Locker access is provided when a smart card is inserted into a computerized reader embedded in the locker.

Pre-loaded smart cards are now required for anyone purchasing water from Thunder Bay’s water fill stations. The cards add convenience for residents using the fill stations, while all fees collected go right back into maintaining the stations.

Last week, city employees in Waco, Tex. were issued ID badges in an effort to improve safety. The standardized ID badges are part of a pilot program that is expected to expand to other departments shortly.

Beginning in April, the Oakland International Airport will allow frequent travelers to use a smart card program, known as "Clear," to pass through security more swiftly. The program prescreens travelers, then issues them a special Clear card.

The El Paso Police Department is issuing new ID cards to its officers so they’ll have a more secure form of identification that can be used for access control, and for identity verification during traffic stops.

The school system in Virginia’s Prince William County is set to begin using a new electronic ID program that will be used to perform background checks and print temporary badges for all visitors on school grounds.

The PATCO rail line, which operates between New Jersey and Philadelphia, is ready to debut the “Freedom Card,” a fare payment program that offers riders the convenience of reloadable smart cards.

Offenders released from Washington state prisons will soon be able to obtain photo identification courtesy of the Department of Corrections. The cards can aid them in obtaining new driver’s licenses, employment, and housing.

Boston’s Logan International Airport is installing a new smart card system intended to speed up the process of dispatching taxis for travelers waiting at its terminals.

New ID cards will properly identify individuals authorized to respond to emergencies in and around Southwestern Pennsylvania, including the city of Pittsburgh. The system will make it easier for responders to quickly provide their services, rather than wasting valuable time having to wait to prove their credentials.

Students at Slippery Rock University can now use their student IDs as fully-functional debit cards thanks to a unique collaboration with Central National Bank. The cards can be used at area businesses and select ATMS both on and off campus.

Commuters traveling along India’s Delhi-Gurgaon highway will soon be able to use contactless smart cards for enhanced speed and efficiency when passing through the new 32-lane automated toll plaza.

The Amarillo Police Department is taking steps to institute a new ID card for officers. The move is prompted by the requirements of a new House Bill as well as recent incidents involving individuals claiming to be police.

Ontario -- The Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTA) has announced plans to begin testing its new “Presto” card system. The Presto program features debit-card-sized smart cards that can be used to pay fares for public transit across the region.

Hospitals in the Toronto area are opting to switch from magnetic swipe cards to contactless smart cards in an effort to enhance overall security and make building access control more effective and reliable.

A new resident ID program, created by the Bolingbrook Park District, assures that village residents will receive a lower rate and priority in registering for parks programs.

Cyclocity, a self service-bike rental application that utilizes RFID card technology, is spreading its reach into new markets including Paris and Seville. The program, which originated in Lyon, France, allows users to rent bicycles at self-service stations as a way to augment public transport.

A pilot program developed by the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters and the Building Contractors Association of New Jersey aims to up the level of security for contract workers by conducting detailed background checks and issuing worker ID cards.

After a host of complaints and concerns regarding the safety of schoolchildren after the day is over, administrators at the Kajonkietsuksa school in Phuket, Thailand have implemented a plan which is hoped to appease parent worries about their children....

Mentor, a professional training company in the UK, has created a new ID card program designed to reduce the risk of accidents involving workplace transport and equipment designed for the handling of materials.

Montreal Issues ID Cards for Kids

Montreal -- In an effort to speed up the process of locating missing children, the city of Montreal has unveiled a new ID card program for kids. The cards will feature the child’s photo, a fingerprint, and other important information that could prove useful for police in search of a lost young one.

Binghamton, NY -- New York’s Binghamton University has incorporated debit-card like accounts into its BUC$ campus ID card program, allowing students, faculty and staff to make purchases on and off campus with their IDs.

Albany, Geo. -- Dougherty County High School students returning from spring break will be issued new ID badges as part of an effort to create a safer school environment. The badges will help to distinguish students from potentially dangerous intruders.

Houston, Tex. -- As part of an effort to meet the requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Port of Houston will begin issuing new ID cards containing worker fingertip templates.

QUINCY, Mass. -- John Russo has been a victim of identity theft. So when he was asked to fork over a photo ID just to be seated at an IHOP pancake restaurant, he flipped.

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minneapolis School District, in response to fights and other altercations at basketball games, is now requiring fans to present a photo ID before being allowed into some basketball games

15 December 2006
The Dutch Defense Telematics Organization (Defensie Telematica Organisatie) has instructed the Siemens Business Services and Getronics PinkRoccade consortium to supply a new identity card ...

Official accused of issuing fake National ID card

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 12:13 GMT]
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka Police arrested a former Assistant Director of Department Registration of Persons...

The Malaysian Immigration Department will introduce a new identity card with security features for...

Heathrow tests biometrics

POSTED: 7:39 a.m. EST, December 6, 2006
LONDON, England (CNN) -- A system using fingerprint scanning and face recognition systems, designed to speed up passenger transit times and increase security, is beginning a trial at Heathrow airport's Terminal 3.

IN a world first, Australians could personally own a microchipped card which gives them access to services...

But tendering process won't start before April 2007

High-tech high
Phila.’s School of the Future opens with laptops, smart cards, and almost no books.

By Susan Snyder, Inquirer Staff Writer
Philadelphia's $63 million "School of the Future" - built under the guidance of Microsoft Corp. and hailed as a first-of-its-kind model for technologically advanced schools worldwide...

U.K. Plans to Introduce ID Cards for Foreign Residents by 2008

Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Foreign citizens living in Britain will have to hold an identification card by 2008 under a 5.4 billion pound ($10 billion) program to roll out ID cards to everyone in the country.

Congress Considers Bill Requiring Strict Voter ID Regs

by Shreema Mehta
Voters who do not have the documentation would be able to fill out a provisional ballot, but would have to submit identification within 48 hours of casting a vote.