While smart transit cards are easily more convenient than carrying exact change to pay your subway fare, the Oi Wearable Travel Card makes it even simpler still to board the bus. Like London's existing Oyster Card system, the radio frequency chip within contains and transmits information about the balance on your public transit account.
The major difference established by Benjamin Parton's invention is that it does not require you to fumble with your purse, pocket or wallet before and after you pass through the turnstiles. The small silicone band of the Oi Wearable Travel Card can be added to a wristwatch strap as a widget or stretched out and sported as a finger ring so that it can be kept hands-free, yet handy, for regular commuters.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Wearable Travel Card
- The development of wearable tech for transportation presents opportunities for integration with other forms of personal wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers.
- Contactless Payment
- The rise of contactless payment methods such as this finger band bus pass hints towards opportunities to integrate with other industries, such as retail, to create seamless payment experiences.
- Hands-free Convenience
- The convenience of hands-free wearable payment methods like the Oi card opens up opportunities to develop similar wearable technologies for other industries such as entertainment and events.
Where This Applies
- Transportation
- The development of wearable travel cards presents opportunities for public transportation companies to improve ridership experience and gather more data to improve their service.
- Wearable Technology
- The success of the Oi Wearable Travel Card suggests potential areas for further development within the growing wearable technology industry.
- Retail
- The success of contactless payment in public transportation creates opportunities for retail companies to create seamless payment experiences within physical stores or at events.
