Blackboard: Momentum building for contactless on campus
07 February, 2011
category: Contactless, Education
Since its announced launch less than a year ago, more than 50 institutions have adopted the Blackboard and Sony Electronics contactless FeliCa-powered platform that was developed specifically for U.S. higher education institutions.
Students at these 50 schools use contactless ID cards to get into secure buildings and facilities, pay for books, meals and laundry and even access campus events, all at faster speeds than with traditional identification technologies.
Florida State University in Tallahassee recently issued nearly 50,000 new contactless campus ID cards to students, faculty and staff and has deployed hundreds of new contactless readers. Tulane University, New Orleans, the University of Texas at Tyler, and Georgia’s Mercer University are among the other institutions to go contactless.
“The adoption of Blackboard contactless technology offered a seamless migration path and provided cardholders with an intuitive, easy to use upgrade to the card,” said Richard Wynn, FSU’s card director. “The addition of a new level of security was another major factor in our decision to change from our previous card technology.”
Blackboard Contactless integrates with Sony FeliCa technology and is made up of of campus ID smart cards and readers that support a range of applications including payment, building access, copy and laundry.