MPTE Walrus Smart Card

[Valandil]

RE: MPTE Walrus Smart Card

(14/10/2015 16:53)CX54 DKD Wrote:  Software engineering is not cheap and, believe it or not, the most expensive part of a development cycle is the ongoing support and modification of the system. If there's even a slight difference in the way the systems need to operate (and there will be, it's not just a database which connects to everything), it quickly becomes unfeasible to modify existing systems and cheaper to develop something new - whether that should be a joint project with other PTE's around the country is a different discussion). Let's not forget how quickly hardware and software become outdated as well and in addition, be aware that a system written in a now outdated or lowly adopted language is as good as worthless (cost implications, lack of programmers etc.) so there's just a few more reasons not just to adopt something which has been working elsewhere for a prolonged period.

At the risk of you refusing to accept this post (:P), your second paragraph seems to contain many reasons why paper tickets are superior, to my mind at least.
Why overcomplicate things with all this software, upgrades and most of all not being able to just walk onto a bus in any region of the country without filling in an application form, having a photo taken etc. first!