With the new school year inching closer, Apple is set to expand the availability of its contactless student IDs. Following its first rollout back in 2018 and timely expansions since, the tech is now reaching Canada for the first time. Besides, the software will also be used by more US universities than before.
This year the University of New Brunswick and Sheridan College outside of Toronto will enable students to add their ID cards to Apple Wallet and use their iPhones or Apple Watch to access facilities and pay for items and services within the campus. In the US, more universities, including Auburn University, Northern Arizona University, University of Maine, and New Mexico State University, will be making use of the tech for contactless verification of students.
Could take years for adoption
It goes without saying that this could take many more years before all schools start offering digital ID cards to students, but the technology has potential and is clearly being noticed by many schools. In April, Apple said it saw more students using their digital IDs to make purchases and access campus facilities instead of physical IDs for the first time since the tech was launched.
Soon the University of Alabama, one of the early adopters of the tech, will be issuing digital IDs to students with necessary hardware, which will be a huge milestone for the technology.
Another unique authentication tech
Speaking of digital IDs, Chinese Tech giant Tencent has developed a time-sensitive facial recognition system that doesn’t allow minors to play video games late at night. The platform is named “Midnight Patrol” and has been launched amid a moral panic over gaming addiction in children in China.
The tech won’t allow People aged below 18 won’t to play games between 10 PM and 8 AM. Besides, users will be asked to register for games under their original names and government ID numbers. The new feature will offer over 60 popular played games, including Honor of Kings and Game for Peace, and the company has plans to add more to the list in the coming days.
