Technology developing for cashless payments

A leading Japanese electronics company is developing memory cards that can be used to make cashless payments, open locks and read identification with a simple flick.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., which makes Panasonic-brand products, said sample shipments would begin in December, with commercial shipments to follow by late next year.

The special memory cards, shown above, will contain computer chips much like so-called smart cards do, enabling them to be read wirelessly by a special reader device.

The technology now used for smart cards, FeliCa from Matsushita’s rival Sony Corp., has smaller memory capacity of 32 kilobytes. Matsushita’s new smartSD Card connects to a separate 128-megabyte memory within the same chip.

Lawrence

Higher education group to discuss funding issues

The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee and Kansas University are having a luncheon featuring speakers from the Citizens for Higher Education Inc.

The nonprofit organization’s mission is to raise awareness about the effect funding cuts are having on colleges and universities as well as the state’s overall economy.

The luncheon will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hereford House, 4931 W. Sixth St.

To make a reservation, contact the chamber by telephone at 865-4411 or by e-mail at lknoll@lawrencechamber.com. The deadline for reservations is 5 p.m. Monday.

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