The integration of my iPhone into more facets of my daily life is progressing smoothly, and I eagerly anticipate a future where all I need to carry is my iPhone and Apple Watch. While strides are being made, one lingering obstacle in achieving that minimalist dream is my driver's license.
Excitingly, this is about to change. Ohio has made a groundbreaking announcement allowing iPhone users in the state to use their device as a valid driver's license. Residents can now add their "Ohio-issued Driver's License or ID card" to the Wallet app on their iPhone, extending this convenience to the Apple Watch as well.
In the official announcement, Ohio highlights that "The Ohio Mobile ID provides an easy, private, and secure way for Ohioans to present their state-issued ID in person at businesses and organizations with compliant mobile ID readers and in select apps that require identity or age verification. The Ohio Mobile ID can also be used at select TSA airport security checkpoints."
I Can't Wait Until I Can Ditch My Physical Driver's License
While I'm thrilled by this development, as a resident of Pennsylvania—merely one state away—I still have to wait for similar advancements. My hope is that our state bureaucracy will embrace this change sooner rather than later.
Eliminating the need for a physical ID would bring me closer to exclusively carrying my iPhone and Apple Watch. There's hardly a need for a traditional wallet these days since digital payments are almost universally accepted.
That leaves just one remaining item: keys. Modern technology offers Homekit-compatible door locks that can be unlocked using an iPhone, Apple Watch, or a keycode, making it easier to forego traditional keys. For vehicles, digital car keys are already being explored by Apple and other automakers like Tesla and Rivian. With these advancements, the day when we can digitize everything in our pockets is not far off.
