Campus study explores combining cell phones, credit cards
By MELANIE ZAHAROPOULOS
Contributing Writer
Imagine being able to buy a chicken sandwich from Commons with your cellular phone just by beaming your USCard information into a scanner. Sound weird?
USC researchers are set to begin market tests on a system in August that may do just that using Nokia phones, said Francis Pereira, the project’s principal researcher.
By summer’s end, students selected in the pilot study, which will distribute 500 to 1,000 phones to a random sampling of incoming freshmen, should be able to purchase items
from USC’s dining venues and possibly the bookstore.
A full-scale study involving more students will begin after the pilot ends. The study is the first of its kind in the United States.
USC was asked for permission to conduct the study by South Korea’s Harex Infotech, which will finance the research through subsidiary Zoop International, the company developing the software.
But while the infrared payment system developed by Harex has been wildly popular in South Korea, researchers working on the three-year project in the United States are skeptical about the possibility of duplicat-
TECHNOLOGY
------♦------
ing that success.
Such success could not be replicated because of social and cultural differences in the United States, Pereira said.
But Mike Watson, senior vice president of Zoop International, said he was more optimistic.
"Everywhere in the world you go,
there is slightly different payment culture,” he said. “One of the purposes of this trial is just finding out the human needs in the application process in the U.S.”
Pereira’s fears may initially be found true, however. Nearly 60 percent of 40 students surveyed said they would not be interested in the new technology.
"Everything’s about efficiency now, and you want to carry less, but I can still stick my credit card in my back pocket,” said Tania Ziadeh, a junior majoring in business administration. “That’s easier than having it in a cell phone.”
Clare Hyun, a sophomore major-
ing in political science and history, did not see a need for the software.
“My cell phone gets lost a lot, and
I	already have credit cards,” she said. “What would be the point?”
Many of those interested in the software said they thought it was an interesting innovation.
“It sounds easy, convenient, you know?” said Shaun Crosner, a freshman majoring in history.
Others thought it would be a simple extension of the cell phone’s ubiquitous appeal.
“Everyone has a cell phone, and everyone has one on them, so it would be convenient,” said Kamy
I see Cellular, page 3 I
DM TROJAN
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
FRIDAY
-----♦-----
March 22, 2002
Of interest...
USC baseball returns from an extended road trip to a Dedeaux Field still being revamped /12
News Digest	2	Calendar	2
Opinions	4	Lifestyle	8
The Buzz	6	Classifieds	8
Crossword	9	Sports	12
vol. CVL, no. 43 www.dailytrojan.com
Stories differ from two-car student wreck
Investigation: Highway Patrol continues to examine the Santa Monica Freeway crash that injured 11 students two weeks ago
By REMA CHRISTY
Contributing Writer
Five other USC students, in addition to six resident advisors from North Residential College, were involved in a car accident March 6. Although officials, victims and witnesses have given their accounts of the accident, the incident is still under investigation.
The five students, members of Alpha Delta Pi, were returning from Jerry’s Famous Deli in Westwood, said Erin Frank, a junior majoring in English.
Jaci Baumgartner, a business administration major, was behind the wheel of her Pontiac, accompanied by Frank, Gina Huang, Maggie Gover and Jenny Collins.
Gover, who was sitting in the middle back seat suffered the worst injury of the five and was treated for a strained back at Kaiser Foundation Hospital,
Frank said.
The students involved and California Highway Patrol officers have different perspectives on the accident
“The statements from the parties involved are conflicting, and while it’s understandable because it was late at night and the roads were slippery from the rain, they are very confusing,” said CHP officer Todd Bergman, who is heading the investigation.
The accident is still being examined and CHP officers are unable to provide confirmed information, Bergman said.
CHP officers are certain that a car was stopped in the left lane because it ran out of gas and that a gold Nissan Altima was also directly stopped behind it, Bergman added. This is the only aspect that witnesses agree on. No passengers in those two cars were USC students.
As the two cars were stopped in the fast lane, the Pontiac was approaching in the fast lane and swerved right, hitting the Honda in the next lane, according to CHP.
“All I know for sure is that I was at a complete stop and someone rear-ended me,” said Kristy McCray, a senior majoring in political science and the driver of the RAs' Honda Civic. “I couldn’t see the other car or anything, just the headlights coming at me in the rear-view mirror.”
Frank said she remembers the incident differently.
I see Accident, page 2 I
“The statements from the parties involved are conflicting, and while it ’s understandable... they are very confusing" —♦— TODD BERGMAN CHP officer
Race for the Prize
Daily Trojan critics and USC professors weigh in their picks for this year’s Oscars, airing Sunday night / 5
Music of life
Fancy feet. (Top) Melissa Anderson, a senior majoring in English, and Lee Cenquizca, a graduate student in neuroscience, swing Thursday night at “Salsa Under the Stars,” an event sponsored by the Latino Student Assembly. The event, celebrating el Festival de Aztlan, featured free food and the music of Orquestra Guayao.
Drumming joy. (Bottom) Traditional Korean drummers perform Thursday at Korean Culture Day in Founders Park. The event, sponsored by the Korean Culture Center and East Asian Library, continued later at night in Bovard Auditorium, featuring Korean music, dance and martial arts demonstrations.
Lizzie Leitzell I Daily Trojan