Is that a vault in your pocket or...

Since I've only just started this blog, on this occassion I don't get to say "I told you so". But believe me, for years now I've been wondering when someone would invent a product like the new Pocket Vault from Chameleon. This nifty device will scan data from any card with a standard magnetic strip and program one master meta-card with that information on demand. The meta-card is programmed by the Pocket Vault sleeve, and released after a finger print scan has been passed. For added security the meta card will only hold its information for a maximum of ten minutes. The only problem I see are price: "under $200" i.e. $199.95, and just how hack proof the vault system is if lost.

Of course this kind of thing would be a lot easier with a single smart-card in your wallet that could be reprogrammed to accept info from multiple banks and other card provider. However smart cards have just not taken off in the USA, unlike over in Europe where they are ubiquitous. But then again those cunning Europeans long ago figured out that working together to define standards (like smart cards, SIM cards and GSM networks) is so much more effective and efficient than waging wars and empire building to force standards on everyone.