Tech Tip: Google Wallet Now Creates Digital IDs from Photos

2024 · VOA Learning English

This speaker is a general-american model. Each line below can be recorded and scored against it.

Transcript

1. Google has added a new tool that permits Android users to create digital versions of many kinds of identification (ID) cards and event

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2. passes for device wallets The tool is part of the Google Wallet app

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3. It was first announced in May along with other changes to the latest operating system, Android 15 The change is explained on a Google Wallet help website.

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4. The tool is now available for Android users in the United States who have the latest update of Google Wallet.

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5. Digital wallets are designed to permit users to save non-physical versions of credit cards, personal IDs, membership passes and event tickets to their

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6. Credit cards in wallets are linked directly to the banks that offer them and can be used to pay for things just like with a physical credit card.

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7. The use of digital wallets has expanded over the years as people depend more on digital IDs and other documents.

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8. Supporters say this reduces the need to carry a lot of cards in a physical wallet. Until now, Google Wallet divided its digital document offerings into categories

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9. Examples of these categories would be payment or gift cards, transportation passes for bus, train or air travel as well as official IDs.

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10. Google’s new tool is designed to permit device users to easily add many more kinds of documents to its Wallet service.

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11. These could include the kinds of passes many people carry in their physical wallets, such as gym memberships and medical or insurance cards.

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12. These digital versions can be created by the user taking a picture of the physical document or by doing a screen capture of a digital version from a device.

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13. Some documents have an electronic barcode or QR code that can be entered into the Wallet app.

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14. Google Wallet then uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to use information from the photo to create a new digital pass.

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15. The process of creating these digital documents is similar to adding new documents to Google Wallet. Users open the app and then click on “Add to Google Wallet

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16. The app then gives users a choice of what kind of card or pass to create. These include groups like “Payment Card,” “Transit Pass” or “ID Card.”

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17. The new Google Wallet has a new category, called “Everything Else.”

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18. This offering was created to permit users to make digital copies of just about any card, pass or document they want to keep in their devices.

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19. Google offers additional security steps to users storing official documents on Android devices. These “private passes” can also be added to Google Wallet.

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20. Google says data contained in official digital documents is only saved on the device as an extra security measure.

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21. People in some American states can create a digital ID to be used to officially prove their identity.

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22. Google explains that this service is currently only available in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Maryland There is a process users must follow to have their

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23. digital IDs verified by each state. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) even accepts this form of state ID at many major U.S.

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24. airports Online technology website Android Authority recently reported Google Wallet will soon be equipped to also create digital versions of American passports.

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25. To create this official digital document, users would need to be holders of a U.S. government issued e-Passport

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26. The online publication said one of its writers discovered the Google Wallet passport is still in development at Google.

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27. Android Authority noted that having a passport saved in Google Wallet might remove the need to present an actual passport in some cases.

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28. However, the digital version is not designed to replace the physical passport, which the user should continue to carry. I’m Bryan Lynn.

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