Identity Management Systems, Logical and Physical Access, Convergence

Radio frequency identification (RFID): Proximity and contactless card technology on campus

Thursday, May 1, 2003

Many campuses utilize proximity cards (also called prox cards) to control access to buildings and facilities. Typically, these have been a stand-alone ID card separate from the official campus ID. Today, however, more and more institutions are opting to merge the two cards, adding the proximity technology to the official ID. While not yet commonplace in the higher education environment, contactless cards are becoming the technology of choice for many transportation fare collection systems, financial ‘wireless’ payments, and many secure credential projects. Both proximity and contactless cards employ the same fundamental technology–radio frequency identification (RFID)–for operation.

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The Open Standard for Public Transport (OSPT) Alliance announced that austriamicrosystems has joined as a full member.

Since joining the OSPT Alliance, austriamicrosystems will have access to the CIPURSE open standard specification, leveraging its experience into embedded systems for mobile fare collection applications. The open standard promotes vendor neutrality and cross-vendor system interoperability with reduced technology adoption risks, higher quality and improved market responsiveness.

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Temple University in Philadelphia is upgrading its campus ID card to not only comply with Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law but to give the card a technology facelift, including adding contactless functionality.

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Calgary, Alberta is pushing forward with the anticipated summer launch of a new smart card payment system for public transit, according to the Calgary Herald.

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Missouri State University has selected Blackboard Transact to implement a contactless student ID card. This enables the new system to integrate student identification, door security, commerce and campus payment into a single contactless card.

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RF Ideas announced the pcProx Plus 82 Series dual-frequency proximity and contactless card reader for organizations looking to enhance investment of single badges by integrating them into applications beyond physical security.

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Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a future resort within Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, will feature contactless proximity door locks when it opens on May 31, 2012, according to the Examiner.

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