Greater use of self serve automated touch screen kiosks for food service and store/shop environments, such as those recently installed at Emory University. A kiosk we recently installed at Emory can automate service at foodservice locations. The kiosk allows users to walk up to a touch screen menu and select the items they want. This order is then sent to the food prep counter and the menu items are prepared and actually delivered to the customers either by call back or by their name. Emory is the only college using this system right now. The kiosk speeds up the line and could increase sales because it would prevent a potential customer frustrated at a long line from going somewhere else. Another advantage is that the kiosk never calls in sick.

PDA devices for remote and portable use to verify entitlement, display photos of card holders, verify event participation as well as declining balance, parking fines and remote debit (picnics, field trips, etc). Handheld portable products are gaining more popularity because of the convenience they offer. They’re ideal for picnics or field trips, issuing parking fines or verifying whether a student is eligible for a particular service. The device supplied by General Meters can display a cardholder’s name and picture, ideal for determining if the right student is taking a test. Such devices aren’t as dependant on staff.

Web based services reducing staffing requirements for parent/student deposits, statements, the selection of meal plans, etc. More and more schools are using the web to facilitate deposits, print statements and view meal plans. Students and parents can go on the web and make deposits to their accounts using a credit card or the student’s campus card–in General Meters’ case, the 1Card. While some 50 campuses are using the web clearing component of General Meters now, I expect that number to double in 2007.

A greater participation by off-campus merchants provides more opportunities for colleges to provide services as well as increase their revenue while expanding their card program. Off-campus merchants can have a card reader, such as the one supplied by General Meters, at point of purchase. This gives more options to students, who can use their campus card off-campus, while providing a little extra income for the college. One of the most clever applications I’ve seen is at two Canadian universities, where students can use their cell phones or campus cards to pay for taxi rides.

Biometric readers for hand/thumb scans to gain access, log on to computer networks and provide greater levels of user authentication/verification. General Meters sees biometric application capability in any area in which a card can be used. The readers we’re using can scan a mag stripe or a thumb print. I’m seeing biometrics being used more right now to control access to doors, such as at Emory where the college didn’t want athletes to have to carry cards when returning from the pool. They can just touch their hands to enter the locker room. Other applications can use biometric technologies such as point of sale systems, or when you want to make a photocopy. But most of our clients still want to see a card displayed. It’s less expensive compared to a biometric reader, but over the next one to three years, I think we will see biometric technology playing a bigger role at college campuses.

Transit applications both bus and taxi cabs for real time rider debit. We have several projects under consideration at various campuses. These would be similar to what’s underway right now at the two Canadian universities mentioned earlier.