Amenity Access Amenity Access - Talk of The Villages Florida

Amenity Access

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  #1  
Old 08-04-2025, 10:40 AM
rhood rhood is offline
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Default Amenity Access

I can use my phone’s and watch’s capabilities to enter Costco, Sam’s, pay for merchandise at stores and restaurants, etc
There is no reason a similar secure system couldn’t be used to access amenities, gates, pools, rec centers, etc.
I am against anything that would require me to carry another card or device to use facilities.
Florida drivers license will soon be digital.
The less I have to carry, the better. It all could be done digitally.
  #2  
Old 08-04-2025, 11:43 AM
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Yes, but who says you HAVE to use the amenities? If you don’t want to carry the card. Don’t. Like a drivers’ license, you don’t want to carry, just don’t drive.
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Old 08-04-2025, 12:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhood View Post
I can use my phone’s and watch’s capabilities to enter Costco, Sam’s, pay for merchandise at stores and restaurants, etc
There is no reason a similar secure system couldn’t be used to access amenities, gates, pools, rec centers, etc.
I am against anything that would require me to carry another card or device to use facilities.
Florida drivers license will soon be digital.
The less I have to carry, the better. It all could be done digitally.
I find it much easier to carry my Villages ID than my phone. Of course, I wish someone would always check my ID when using an Ammenity, but that’s a different issue.
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Old 08-04-2025, 12:10 PM
Bogie Shooter Bogie Shooter is offline
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I pass, don’t want to pay for all the equipment………
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  #5  
Old 08-04-2025, 12:28 PM
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I pass, don’t want to pay for all the equipment………
And I don't want to read about the consequences if there is any incident where an elderly lady was in a pool when 4 teenage boys hopped the fence from Trailwinds.

But there are cheaper alternatives to what was suggested
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Old 08-04-2025, 12:38 PM
jimhoward jimhoward is offline
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The villages is backwards technologically. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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Old 08-04-2025, 12:56 PM
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The villages is backwards technologically. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
They have been for decades. It's really sad how they can spend so much on unnecessary fluff to sell houses, but their IT dept is severely lacking. But they didn't get rich by making things easier for people who already bought!
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Old 08-04-2025, 01:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhood View Post
I can use my phone’s and watch’s capabilities to enter Costco, Sam’s, pay for merchandise at stores and restaurants, etc
There is no reason a similar secure system couldn’t be used to access amenities, gates, pools, rec centers, etc.
I am against anything that would require me to carry another card or device to use facilities.
Florida drivers license will soon be digital.
The less I have to carry, the better. It all could be done digitally.
Personally, I like it the way it is, but I would like the ID cards checked more often.
  #9  
Old 08-04-2025, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by shut the front door View Post
They have been for decades. It's really sad how they can spend so much on unnecessary fluff to sell houses, but their IT dept is severely lacking. But they didn't get rich by making things easier for people who already bought!
You are talking about an outfit that markets and advertises through their own newspaper. They are decades behind in technology. No social media platforms and ancient cards for gates are prime examples of the antiquated company.
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Old 08-04-2025, 01:53 PM
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Let's not spend $$$ on something that really isn't a big problem.
  #11  
Old 08-04-2025, 01:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhood View Post
I can use my phone’s and watch’s capabilities to enter Costco, Sam’s, pay for merchandise at stores and restaurants, etc
There is no reason a similar secure system couldn’t be used to access amenities, gates, pools, rec centers, etc.
I am against anything that would require me to carry another card or device to use facilities.
Florida drivers license will soon be digital.
The less I have to carry, the better. It all could be done digitally.
100%
They won't even accept a scannable photo of Villages ID. Ridiculous.
  #12  
Old 08-04-2025, 02:08 PM
Bill14564 Bill14564 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shut the front door View Post
They have been for decades. It's really sad how they can spend so much on unnecessary fluff to sell houses, but their IT dept is severely lacking. But they didn't get rich by making things easier for people who already bought!
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Originally Posted by BillyGrown View Post
You are talking about an outfit that markets and advertises through their own newspaper. They are decades behind in technology. No social media platforms and ancient cards for gates are prime examples of the antiquated company.
Are you offering to fund the upgrade? Start a GoFundMe campaign?

Personally, I feel the approach being taken works well and keeps costs down. Much of what has been discussed in this and other threads would be terribly expensive and would create single points of failure that could make the entire system inoperable.

You do realize that the big, bad Developer no longer has anything at all to do with the gate capabilities north of 44, right? (and many south of 44 but the line move regularly)
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  #13  
Old 08-04-2025, 02:23 PM
BillyGrown BillyGrown is offline
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Originally Posted by Bill14564 View Post
Are you offering to fund the upgrade? Start a GoFundMe campaign?

Personally, I feel the approach being taken works well and keeps costs down. Much of what has been discussed in this and other threads would be terribly expensive and would create single points of failure that could make the entire system inoperable.

You do realize that the big, bad Developer no longer has anything at all to do with the gate capabilities north of 44, right? (and many south of 44 but the line move regularly)
Some upgrades reduce employees, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as far as savings.
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Old 08-04-2025, 02:23 PM
Stu from NYC Stu from NYC is offline
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I will add it to the list of what bothers me. Thinking I can start worrying about it in 19 years 8 months.

However now that I am retired only have time to worry about 2 things a year
  #15  
Old 08-04-2025, 02:29 PM
OrangeBlossomBaby OrangeBlossomBaby is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhood View Post
I can use my phone’s and watch’s capabilities to enter Costco, Sam’s, pay for merchandise at stores and restaurants, etc
There is no reason a similar secure system couldn’t be used to access amenities, gates, pools, rec centers, etc.
I am against anything that would require me to carry another card or device to use facilities.
Florida drivers license will soon be digital.
The less I have to carry, the better. It all could be done digitally.
Florida paid a company called Thales almost $2million to develop a smart-ID app back in 2021. By 2024 the state realized it was an enormous, expensive tax-payer funded flop, and scrapped the program and told everyone who had the app to uninstall it. Some police departments didn't even know the app existed so when they pulled someone over who presented that app, it created major problems.

In addition, an app on a phone only works if the phone's battery isn't dead. A physical ID card works 24/7. Both phone and card could be lost. The screen on a phone could be polarized and not allow a scanner to work. But the card works all the time.
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