By Jung Gatoona

Let's admit it. Sometimes it's a hassle to carry around that plastic card we all call TAP. To get on a train or bus one has to take out his/her wallet, take out the TAP card, tap the machine, put the card back in the wallet, and then the wallet back into the pocket. And, if you hands are already occupied holding something, this whole process is simply an annoyance.

Added onto the annoyance, the TAP card often gets lost in the midst of the already card pumped wallet, further wasting more time before you can get on. Wait, did I just tap my library card? Crap.

So a few of my colleagues and I began thinking. How can we make it easier and quicker for people to just get on a train or bus? How can we simplify the current process even more? Make it so that people can continue moving without obstacles.

Here are the top four ideas in rethinking the way we TAP:

1) Foot Tap

"I often go grocery shopping via Metro, and having my hands full with bags, it was very difficult for me to simultaneously carry the luggage and to tap my TAP card. So one day, I placed my TAP card under the insoles of my shoes, and decided to tap by kicking the machine. The idea was a success, so I decided to explore it a bit deeper. What if the TAP sensors were located not above the ground, but rather on the ground? If that was the case, then tapping the card would literally be as easy as walking." - William J.

2) Bracelet

"I'm not the most organized person, so I frequently misplace a lot of my stuff, and the TAP card is no exception. I spend endless minutes digging through the jungles of my backpack to find that card, and it's such a frustrating experience. So I began thinking, what if the TAP card was always on me in a visible place. Then the light bulb on my head blinked bright. What if the TAP card was designed like a bracelet? It would be ready to go at any moment, and it definitely won't go missing as easily as the current card form does." - Carl Yu

3) Wireless Sensors

"It be wonderful if the TAP card could be validated from a distance. One could place the card anywhere on his body and have the ability to simply enter a station or bus without having to worry about taking the card out and physically tapping it on a machine. It would sort of work like a metal detector, where a frequency would retrieve the card's information. This idea would save time and aid in catching that soon to depart train, and for buses, it will save the hassle of trying to balance yourself in front of the bus while you're searching for the TAP card." - Richard Hernandez

4) Cellphones/Key Chains

"I have personally seen the Japanese purchase monthly train passes from their phones and use their phones as we Angelenos use TAP cards. Could Metro not work with phone companies to provide the same thing? I mean, what's something people always have in hand and ready to take out at any given moment's notice? It's not the TAP card, it's the cellphone. For me and many others, our cellphones are always on hand, and if not, they are most likely located inside our front pockets. So it make sense for Metro to try and combine the frequent usage of the TAP card to the readily availability of the cellphone. For now, my only option is to tape the TAP card to the back of my cellphone and pretend to be advanced like the Japanese. Oh, and besides implementing TAP card into cellphones, TAP key chains should be made as well." - Jung Gatoona

Illustration & Photo | Jung Gatoona