I envy Americans who can turn their iPhone into a "digital driver's license": WWDC21 (On Ishikawa)

When I was watching Apple's developer event "WWDC21" held online in the early hours of June 8 (Japan time), I was envious of the fact that "America is nice." rice field.

Summary of WWDC21 in 5 minutes. iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS "Monterey" announced

After all, Apple is an American company, and new services and functions start first in the United States or in English. It's a story that says, "Well, that's right," but as someone who speaks Japanese in Japan, it makes me feel like, "America is nice."

First of all, the thing I was most envious of was Wallet. Some states in the United States will be able to store driver's licenses and digital IDs in Walletni.

The iPhone becomes a “digital driver’s license”, and the wallet app evolves with iOS 15

Recently, the number of places where QR code payments can be made has increased dramatically, and the number of people carrying a wallet has decreased significantly. It feels like using FeliCa payment with Apple Pay at convenience stores and supermarkets, while using QR code payment at small stores such as laundry shops and bento shops.

While thinking, "Maybe I don't have to carry my wallet around anymore," the troublesome thing is the "driver's license." I have to bring this with me when I drive. As expected, I couldn't keep my driver's license in my pocket while I was naked, so I had no choice but to carry it around in my wallet.

How convenient would it be if you could store your driver's license in your iPhone? I would like the Digital Agency and related ministries to seriously consider this.

Speaking of driver's license, please do something about international driver's license. When I drive overseas, I bring an international driver's license with me, but if it's different from a Japanese driver's license in size, it's also different from a passport, so it's a little big and inconvenient to carry around. I just don't understand why they made it so half-sized. I would like the Digital Agency and related ministries to consider this as well.

It seems that the Digital Agency is currently considering installing the My Number card function on smartphones, but it seems that they are sorting out the issues regarding the system and operation of installing it on Android equipped with the FeliCa SE chip. "Continued negotiations with Apple to realize this."

My number card installed in smartphones, aiming for 2022 ──Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Isn't it difficult to popularize the My Number Card on smartphones unless it is installed in the iPhone, which is owned by half of Japanese smartphone users? I would like the Digital Agency to work hard to install the “My Number Card in iPhone Wallet”.

WWDC also touched on the evolution of the map.

In car navigation systems, grade crossings are represented in 3D, and an AR guidance function has been added for pedestrians. It will be able to guide you according to the surroundings.

Unfortunately, there was no mention of Japan regarding the corresponding areas for these functional enhancements.

Certainly, Japan's metropolitan expressways are complicated with grade-separated crossings, and I think it is difficult to convert them into data. Also, there are many subway stations, and there are many exits, so there is no doubt that it is complicated and strange. Apple may be having trouble converting it into data, but I would like it to somehow respond to Japan.

In addition, at WWDC, we introduced enhancements such as recognizing the characters captured by the camera, converting them to text, searching from there, and voice calling if it is a phone number.

Unfortunately, English, Chinese, European languages, etc. were also supported, and Japanese was not touched. Chinese kanji is OK, but it may be difficult if hiragana and katakana are mixed.

However, there is good news for users who use Japanese.

Although it was not mentioned in the keynote speech, iPadOS 15 now supports Japanese as well as handwritten text on the iPad, which became compatible with iPadOS 14 last year.

"iPadOS 15" has evolved in a different direction from Mac, focusing on multitasking and enhancement of Apple Pencil (Junya Ishino)

When this Scribble was announced last year, I was quite disappointed that it was only available in English and Chinese. As expected, it seems that Apple is focusing on the Japanese market.

So, surely, if you wait a year or so, you will be able to use the functions that were not announced for Japan this time.

Regarding Wallet, the Digital Agency's response will be necessary, but let's wait patiently for Japan's response.

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