By: Melanie Hoffman
In the most recent edition of the GW Hatchet, there was an article entitled “University delays GWorld system upgrade: GWorld 2.0 slated for completion be fall 2010.”
the article discusses the new GWord system which has been titled “GWorld 2.0.” when this system is put in place, the GWorld cards will no longer swipe, but feature a tap-system similar to the metro smatrip cards.
That means that you wont have to take out your card to get into buildings or pay. in otherwords, the picture on the card will not have to be looked at since the card will work while in your pocket or purse.
does this mean less security? I think so. If your card is not being checked for verification when you use it, anyone can use any card at any time, with no one asking to see if the picture on the card is yours.
this could mean more identity theft, and more problems when you loose your card or your wallet gets stolen. One is already hassled when he tries to get a new card, imagine how that will be with the new system.
in the article, the university was quoted and said that the project had been delayed partially because the company that will provide the cards was going to update their system and security, so the university did not want to rush into the project when the company would produce a more secure product in the near future.
I personally think that the cards we have now work fine, and i am a little hesitant to accept the fact that in the future i could spend $40 at Safeway or at a restaurant and just tap my card without someone checking to make sure it was mine.
6 Comments
December 11, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I agree with Melanie, I think the current system we have works just fine. But I do know a few people who this new system would benefit greatly. There are a couple girls and boys on campus that observe the Sabbath, which means no electronics. Therefore, having to swipe is a major issue for them, and usually they are forced to wait for someone to swipe for them so they can get into their dorms. This can be very frustrating sometimes. With this new system, they wouldn’t even have to touch their cards (which they can’t do anyway). For me, it wouldn’t really make a difference. It is annoying to sometimes have to dig through your backpack to get your GWorld out, but I think most of us can deal with that.
December 11, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I understand the initial hessitation to the GWorld 2.0 system, but I think, and I may be wrong (I guess we will have to wait until the system actually comes out) that this will actually be a better system. I do not think that when paying for something, you are just going to hold up your wallet and say, “tap here.” You will still be required to remove your card and show it, if not swipe it. Just because it will be easier to use does not mean security will become more lax. Technology makes our lives easier, and if we can get into our buildings without having to swipe three separate times, then this system did its job. I guess we will just have to wait until the system actually comes out.
December 11, 2008 at 9:34 pm
WOOHOO! I am so excited about this new system. If we use the excuse that we are worried that people will use other people’s cards, I disagree. Personally, I think the system we have now doesn’t do a good job of that either. No matter where you go, a restaurant, Safeway or even the health and Wellness Center, they honestly do not look to see if it is your card. You may argue my point, especially at Hell Well, but even there, they glance for a total of maybe .5 seconds to see if it says GWorld on it, but besides that, no on really cares. I am not denying that it is not easy to have others use our cards, because it is and it will be, however I think we need to keep up with technology and our 2.0 world and I am super excited about this new system.
December 13, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I agree with brett, people dont look at the pictures anyways. especially in my dorm, people just throw down their gworld to their freinds instead of signing them in. no offense, but there isnt much harm in that. this would be amazing, i wouldnt have to search through my wallet to find my gworld, and it would definitely be improving the system and keeping up with the 2.0 world.
December 15, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I think this will be much more convenient for us, but I also understand the concerns. Hopefully with a better-updated product, there will not be any security issues. My concern is that these cards will have the same problem as some early Smartrip cards were reported to have: being charged multiple times for the same thing. People who first got the Smartrip cards complained that they would accidentally tap their cards more than once or the reader would read the card more than once at the bus or metro and the card would be charged multiple times. I have a Smartrip and can attest that this doesnt happen any more, and hopefully it wont happen with the new GWorld system.
December 15, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I think this will be much more convenient for us, but I also understand the concerns. Hopefully with a better-updated product, there will not be any security issues. My concern is that these cards will have the same problem as some early Smartrip cards were reported to have: being charged multiple times for the same thing. People who first got the Smartrip cards complained that they would accidentally tap their cards more than once or the reader would read the card more than once at the bus or metro and the card would be charged multiple times. I have a Smartrip and can attest that this doesnt happen any more, and hopefully it wont happen with the new GWorld system.