Reference
Debit card
A “debit card” is a cash card from a financial organization that can be used to
buy products. When buying a product,
the cash card is presented, a personal
identification number is entered into a
computer terminal, and the money is
withdrawn in real-time from the user’s
bank account.
Also referred to as “J-Debit” in Japan.
Reference
GPS
Abbreviation for “Global Positioning
System.”
Reference
ETC
Abbreviation for “Electronic Toll Collection.”
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(4)Electronic money
“Electronic money” means paying for products using a contactless IC
card that has been charged with cash in advance so that it has equal value
to cash. It can also refer to the system. Recently, electronic money in the
form of cellular phones embedded with IC tags has also become widespread. Electronic money is used in a similar way to prepaid cards or gift
certificates, but it is attracting attention as an environmentally-friendly
payment method because the same IC card can be charged repeatedly.
Another advantage is that electronic money is easy for elderly and disabled
people to handle as there is no need to deal with small change.
Typical forms of electronic money in Japan include “Edy”, “iD”, “nanaco”, “PASMO”, “Suica”, “WAON”, and “Osaifu-Keitai.”
(5)GPS application system
A “GPS application system” is a system that precisely calculates positions on the earth by receiving electromagnetic waves from artificial satellites.
Also referred to as the “Global Positioning System” or a “global navigation satellite system.”
Developed as a military technology of the US Armed Forces, these systems are capable of calculating a receiver’s latitude, longitude, and altitude
with a margin of error of between several centimeters and several dozen
meters.
As well as being used alone, GPS application systems are widely used in
car navigation systems and cellular phones.
(6)ETC system
An “ETC system” is a system for automating payment of charges on toll
roads.
Toll roads across Japan generate chronic traffic congestion, and the increase in costs due to traffic congestion and environmental pollution
caused by exhaust fumes is becoming serious. ETC systems were developed with the aim of reducing these kinds of economic losses and preventing the traffic congestion that frequently occurs at tollgates.
A contact-type IC card issued by a credit card company is used when using
an ETC system. By inserting this IC card into an ETC on-board device, the
user can pass through tollgates without stopping. Charges are billed later
via the credit card company.