Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Technology

Slim down your wallet

By Barry Fox

14 June 2003

Is your wallet bulging with credit cards, debit cards, gym cards, loyalty cards and door passes? Most of a card’s bulk is the plastic, while all the data is on the thin magnetic strip on the back of the card. So why not save space by putting two strips onto one card? The US Patent Office is now considering just such an idea from 11-year-old schoolboy Scott Barnhill (US 2002/113130). Barnhill suggests that businesses that issue cards should use a machine like a tape dispenser to put a strip of magnetic tape onto the front of an existing card. The…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop