G+_Kevin Graham Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I'm due for a phone upgrade and I'm strongly considering the iPhone 6. I'm in a wheelchair and I find the idea of authenticating payment with my phone instead of having someone pull out my wallet very attractive. I know you physically have to hold the phone very close to the sensor though. Can you guys think of anything I could maybe attach to the phone to extend the range by maybe a couple of feet? Just a shot in the dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Use a selfie stick. Finally, a use for one of those things that doesn't make me want to hurl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Michael Buitendorp Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 The only problem with an extension is that from my understanding you have to have a finger on the Touch ID for the process to authenticate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Depends on the design. If you only need something touching the Touch ID spot a selfie stick would be perfect, they have some way to trigger a picture being taken, I'm just assuming the same setup would work to touch the spot while paying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kevin Graham Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 I'm assuming you have to use your finger. Otherwise what's the point? Good thought though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Scott Knight Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Apple watch will also use apple pay when released early next year. Not sure how it will authenticate, but that is a feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kevin Graham Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 I envision that wheel being a nightmare for me to use, but it might be an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kevin Graham Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 One more thought: how hard/legal would it be to make some sort of portable signal repeater to extend the range? I guess my concern would be radio interference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Michael Buitendorp Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 The problem, if it were even possible, is that NFC has a max transmitting range of 20 cm. So depending on how far you need to transmit you need a repeater probably every 15 cm at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kevin Graham Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 Yeah, that would be a problem. Thanks for the feedback everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Phillip Adcock Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I believe NFC that is in the new iPhone 6 could be very useful to you. I imagine most of the signal readers would be placed close to the edge of the counter very near where the side for a customer swiped debit card machine would be. I would say you would probably have little or no difficulty in using the device to make payments. I also imagine that most of the NFC to POS readers will not be screwed so it could be even easier for the cashier to put at a level for you to use if it need be. I worked in a shoe store and we purposely left are credit card machine sitting on the counter instead of screwed down as we had a high counter. When we had a person with a disability we could pass them the reader to allow them to privately complete the transaction just as any other consumer. Again this is just my point of view on how things will work. As far as an extender, unless apple creates something to help with that I'm not sure that would be possible as it will be using the fingerprint sensor in the home button to verify your identity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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