Japan, in particular, has taken technology integration to a whole new level. According to an article in The Washington Post, Japanese convenience stories truly are a convenience. “At Happy Lawson, a kid-friendly [convenience] store that overlooks Yokohama Harbor, you can buy fresh sushi and carbon offsets, pay income tax and change diapers, book airplane tickets and sip vodka coolers,” the article revealed. Nearly any bill in Japan — utility, phone, cable or tax — can be paid at a Japanese convenience store. About $80 billion worth were paid that way last year.
In Taiwan, the government has created a Smart Bus program that makes the public transportation system more rider-friendly. In Chiayi County, Taiwan, buses are equipped with GPS so the operation center can track and estimate what time the buses will reach stops. The Smart Bus systems also alleviate long waits because traffic conditions are reported over the GPS system.
日本ではコンビニで税金が払えて、台湾ではGPSでバスの待ち時間を減らす事例が紹介。