The Pasmo was first introduced for use on public transport in Tokyo using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, which are transponders that can be read by machines several metres away.

The company has also just recently introduced a new feature on the Pasmo which will allow parents to keep tabs on their kids. Upon arriving at school, the card’s signal will be picked up by a machine which then sends a text message or email to parents. Of course, this system makes skipping class a bit more difficult for Japanese youth whose parents will now be able to keep a remote eye on them at all times.

Perhaps more worrying is the fact that corporations are now eyeing up the model for their employees. Instead of only being used as a way to gain access to an office building, or pay for food in the work cafeteria, some bosses are looking at the card as a way of checking up on their workers punctuality. Because the card doubles as a transport pass, a curious boss would be able to know in minutes whether or not an employee had really been stuck in rush hour traffic, or just slept late and dawdled in to work.

And with corporate bosses and parents using the Pasmo to keep tabs on their underlings, it may only be a matter of time before governments find a use for the Pasmo too. X