There was a time when people carried wallets, coin purses, card holders, and even a deck with phone numbers. Books like the Yellow Pages and White Pages were used, you had to memorize your friends’ phone numbers, and you needed an external device to listen to music on the go, like a cassette player, a Walkman, or an MP3. But in the digital age, everything is just a click away, compressed into a screen no bigger than the palm of our hand.
Credit cards, playlists, phone numbers, paper maps, plane tickets, and video games: when we’re out, our entire life can be found inside the little metallic box we carry around. That’s why, when a pickpocket manages to steal it from our pocket, we fall into a state of paralyzing anxiety.
What is Digital ID, Apple’s new feature
With Digital ID, Apple aims to allow everyone to keep their documents on their iPhone or Apple Watch. There’s no need to take out your wallet to prove who you are – all you need is Apple Wallet, at least in the U.S.: the feature is currently available only at check-ins in over 250 American airports, as it’s formatted based on U.S. passport information. However, the company has confirmed that soon it will also be useful in other contexts – for example, to verify age or identity in stores or on apps.
How to add your driver’s license or ID card to your phone
On Apple Wallet, it will soon be possible to upload your driver’s license, passport, or digital ID card. To do so, simply scan the physical document – so the phone can read the NFC chip – and take a photo while moving your head to verify your identity (similar to how SPID works).
