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University installs contactless ecosystem
9 Mar 2010

A contactless smart card system for college or school campuses has been installed at Santa Clara University in the US.

Blackboard Inc, the designer of the system, is an American company that provides education solutions through technology.

With one single smart card students are able to fulfil a variety of different tasks. They are able to enter secure buildings and facilities as well as paying for food, books and laundry.

Nirmal Palliyaguru, the director of access and conference services at Santa Clara University, sees the adoption of the technology as a necessary technological evolution.

"We saw Blackboard's contactless solution as a way for us to keep pace with rapidly changing technology by adopting a solution based on industry standards," he said.

Contactless technology allows students a greater degree of convenience moving around campus, without compromising on security.

According to David Marr, president and chief operating officer of Blackboard Inc. Inc, the technology "lets institutions support and monitor all commerce and security activity from one place," while students are able to access goods and services as and when they need to.

Similar schemes are in operation across the world. In a number of schools in the UK, contactless smart card provider sQuidcard enables students to purchase meals without having to carry around dinner money.