In 2012, MasterCard purposed an idea to embed LCD screens and keyboard in their cards to add 2-step authentication method. MasterCard launched these cards in Singapore.
MasterCard tried luring its customers by announcing that card screen will also show you reward points, balance amount, and other information.
I guess, however, nobody wanted that either.
Even though the intention behind adding a display in card was to improve security, it just didn’t grab attention of public. Nobody knows how they went to oblivion.
After 5 years, again, MasterCard is playing the same cards but in a different manner. I recently found one of its patent applications revealing that now it wants to add display screen in a MasterCard’s credit/debit card to display ads.
Yes, ads! The patent mentions that after an analysis of information like account details, purchase history, etc. of a user, its card will display relevant ads.
The digital advertising business is booming. In IoT world, this will touch another level. Even Google Home and Amazon Alexa, for example, are gearing up to display ads. Google Home even did this recently.
Companies are figuring out new ways to serve their customers with relevant ads to improve both the user experience and their own revenues.
And MasterCard is boarding the wagon, too. Now, MasterCard have a screen so, they apparently thought why not use it to display ads.
Where there is a screen, there will be ads.
Five years ago, the idea of having a display screen on a payment card didn’t impress any.
Given that we all are already fed up of charging our smartphones, smartwatches often, none among us want another device in pocket that demands to be recharged.
Moreover, why should I bother recharging the card? So that it could show me ads?
I leave it on you to decide the fate of this invention. I think you already know the answer. Don’t you? 😉
Even though MasterCard’s idea might fail to impress you too much but I’m sure what Intel did will take your breaths away. Intel has a great plan to bring Harry Potter’s magic wands to reality. Read more about this smart home magical gadget from here.