Commuters get on board with high-tech tickets
25 February, 2003
category: Contactless, Transit
As hordes of commuters zoom through the ticket gates of Taipei’s mass rapid transit system, some wave a piece of plastic over the turnstile’s built-in sensor pad, while others simply tilt their bags or wallets toward it. It takes only 0.4 seconds for the sensor to detect the proximity chip embedded in their smart cards, allowing them instant access to the MRT.
Equipped with an integrated circuit and antenna, the EasyCard makes it quicker and more convenient for passengers to ride buses and subways. It can also be used to instantly pay parking fees at dozens of parking lots in Taipei. Since the product’s launch in September, people have dumped their previous magnetic-strip cards for the seemingly magical item, bringing the number of cards sold to 1.2 million.