How tap-to-pay actually works

 

During my latest exploration trip to D.C. one of the experiences that stuck with me was their smart card and how it works. I had a great time touring the city; click here for more about the trip itself. I stayed in a hotel in Maryland and drove to the Metro parking garage to park my car and took the train into the city. As with any city where I'm taking public transit around to explore the area, I always get their transit card and purchase their equivalent of a day pass. 

 

 

The smartrip card is a transit pass that instead of swiping to get through the turn-style, you have to place it on the RFID/NFC reader in order to open the gates. Since it's a tap-to-pay system, I'll be using this example to illustrate how it works. 

 

 

I was always fascinated and interested in exactly how this system works because no matter how long I've been in the tech field, I still get excited over being able to place a card, badge, phone app onto a device and watching something happen. I'll briefly go into how this particular technology works and how it contributes to the ease and convenience of every day activities. 

 

 

Transit card for D.C. Metro

RFID- Stands for Radio Frequency Identification. This involves two devices that "communicate" with each other using coils (serves as antennae), the magnetic field of those two devices, that conducts the transfer of information wirelessly once within range of that magnetic field; and a small data-filled chip, whose information is transferred as a result of the first two components interacting with each other.

 

 

  

NFC- Stands for Near Field Communication. While this is a type of RFID, the benefit to this is since it only uses HF (high frequency) to transfer data you have to be closer to the magnetic reader to trigger that wireless data transfer. 

 

RFID uses a range of both LF (low frequency) and HF (high frequency) during it's wireless energy transfer any data that is present is also transmitted and carried over. NFC only uses HF to transfer data, and tends to be more secure as there is a limit to the amount of data that's transmitted, (it only has room for a small string of characters). While RFID tends to spit out all of it's data more "carelessly", when within range of the readers' magnetic field. 

 

 

Here's how this all comes together; the smartrip card has a chip in it that has the monetary balance that was paid to purchase the card, as the data on it. That card is then placed directly on the RFID reader, and similar to how an RFID tag and RFID reader interact once both components enter each other's magnetic field; the data on the card is transmitted wirelessly and the turnstyle gates open up, allowing entry.

 

This same process works for phones, digital business cards, apps etc. that also use NFC beaming and even bluetooth technology to transmit data.

 

It's really a cool sight to see, how technology has advanced to the point where you're able to send a document from your phone to one of your friends, by simply tapping the back of your phone to theirs.

 

Or even better yet, use bluetooth to connect to their phone and transfer documents to them from across the room. Prime example of this is Apple's "Airdrop" feature. 

 

 

Transit Card for L.A. Metro

The Smartrip card data is managed by the software used on the machines that you purchase the cards from. That software has a transaction ledger of the balances on the card and "writes" that data to the chip on the card. When the card is used, that data is transmitted to another device which utilized the same software to record the remaining balance of how much is used.This process repeats when the card is refilled.

 

 

While you can find a brief explanation of how RFID and NFC works here, let me know your thoughts below on whether this technology has helped to improve your life or if you feel that's it's not secure enough. Comment below.

How tap-to-pay actually works

28.9.22

Amazon Fresh- The New Age Grocery Store

*As this is an Affiliate Post, if you choose to purchase anything through the links below, I will receive a small comission from that sale, with no extra cost to you. it's not mandatory, but highly appreciated*

 During my trip to D.C. I decided to visit the neighboring state of Virginia while I was nearby. I took the metro from D.C. first to Arlington, VA, visited the famous National Cemetary, and then took the train further in to visit the Pentagon.

 

While exploring, I decided to take a break at a Starbucks, and while on my way there, I walked past an Amazon Fresh Supermarket. Until then, I had no idea that Amazon even had a supermarket. Much less any physical stores. My curiosity got the better of me, and I walked in to investigate. 

 

The first thing I noticed were several turnstiles with a scanner next to them with a sign requesting you to present your QR code for your prime account. Looking around, I saw a few of the employees, walked over, and questioned them about how many locations they had and how this supermarket worked. 

 

They told me that amazon prime members can shop here by scanning their QR code, picking up what they need, adding it to their cart, and scanning the same code to leave the store, sans cashier interaction. I was intrigued and made it my business to try it out for myself when I returned home. 

 

I visited the one in Paramus, NJ, to glean a first hand shopper experience from it. I pulled into the mall's outdoor parking lot and excitedly walked in. I saw several turnstiles with a QR code scanner and one entrance at the end that allowed you to walk in without scanning anything.  

 

 

I grabbed a cart walked in through the bigger gate,  picked up a loaf of french bread, and when I finally pulled up my QR code, walked back to the turnstile and scanned it. I was told by the store associate, in order to use the the store's technology; I had to first put the bread back, then scan the code so the technology can "sense" what I picked up around the store and add it to my account. I did that and continued shopping.  

 

 

While walking through the aisles, I saw an array of products that were priced similarly to what you would see in Shoprite, Target, and Wholefoods. Some items were cheaper, while some were more expensive, and while I picked up some much-needed household items, I looked up and saw the multitude of camera's stacked next to each other, descending from the ceiling, all over the store.

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The next hour was spent browsing through each aisle and surveying everything they had in that store. To my surprise, I enjoyed how they had an Amazon package return center at the back of the store. It's where you go to return any item's you've ordered from Amazon.com. It's a nice little added convenience to your shopping experience. 

 

I walked over to that counter to return some shoes and noticed a section that had a computer for you to sign into with a "palm-reader" next to it. I was met with intrigue and suspicion over this item, because while an avid tech enthusiast, I do have my reservations about how far I'm willing to go with Biometric devices.  This same device was also available at the exits so you can scan your palms or your QR code to leave the store.

 

Overall my experience was a pleasant one. The ease of shopping, how easily the items were found and they had sturdy reusable bags at the end caps of the aisle, with two different types of shopping carts. One was a regular cart and the other was a computerized cart that scans all of your items as you put it into your cart and adds that item to your account.  

 

Despite the novelty of being able to walk in and out of the store without using cash or stopping by a cashier, this location had cashiers available to help with your purchases if needed. If you decide to shop there and glean your own experience, here's what to watch out for: 

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•  Don't pick up anything you don't plan on buying because if you don't want it, you might get charged for it. The sensors are triggered on what you pick up, but not always on what you put back.
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• Easy to over shop. Some items are really cheap while others are more expensive than target and shoprite. I guess it balances out. 
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• You can't return just any amazon ordered package as it depends on if amazon shipped it from their warehouse or if it came from outside their delivery jurisdiction. As was the case with my shoes. I was so annoyed that I had to make another stop to the UPS store to drop it off. 
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• When you finish shopping and leave the store you are sent a receipt to your e-mail detailing your purchases, the cost and total number of each item. You have three hours to make adjustments, dispute costs, make refund request for items you've picked up/ returned and the total amount of items overall.

 

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• Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go are two different stores. One is a supermarket grocery store similar to stop and shop and wholefoods, while the other is similar to a 7-11 store. Check out the differences here: Amazon Go/Fresh

 

 

 

Have you had a chance yet to visit these stores? If so, leave a comment below and let me know your experience. If you'd like to see for yourself what the hype is all about, click here for a free trial of Amazon Prime and take a look.

Amazon Fresh- The New Age Grocery Store

21.9.22