diff --git a/sqlite3.go b/sqlite3.go
index de9d7d2..cf5e99a 100644
--- a/sqlite3.go
+++ b/sqlite3.go
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 	"unsafe"
+
+	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 )
 
 // Timestamp formats understood by both this module and SQLite.
@@ -170,8 +172,6 @@ type SQLiteTx struct {
 type SQLiteStmt struct {
 	c      *SQLiteConn
 	s      *C.sqlite3_stmt
-	nv     int
-	nn     []string
 	t      string
 	closed bool
 	cls    bool
@@ -295,19 +295,19 @@ func (ai *aggInfo) Done(ctx *C.sqlite3_context) {
 
 // Commit transaction.
 func (tx *SQLiteTx) Commit() error {
-	_, err := tx.c.exec("COMMIT")
+	_, err := tx.c.execQuery("COMMIT")
 	if err != nil && err.(Error).Code == C.SQLITE_BUSY {
 		// sqlite3 will leave the transaction open in this scenario.
 		// However, database/sql considers the transaction complete once we
 		// return from Commit() - we must clean up to honour its semantics.
-		tx.c.exec("ROLLBACK")
+		tx.c.execQuery("ROLLBACK")
 	}
 	return err
 }
 
 // Rollback transaction.
 func (tx *SQLiteTx) Rollback() error {
-	_, err := tx.c.exec("ROLLBACK")
+	_, err := tx.c.execQuery("ROLLBACK")
 	return err
 }
 
@@ -404,9 +404,21 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) lastError() Error {
 // Implements Execer
 func (c *SQLiteConn) Exec(query string, args []driver.Value) (driver.Result, error) {
 	if len(args) == 0 {
-		return c.exec(query)
+		return c.execQuery(query)
 	}
 
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, v := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue{
+			Ordinal: i + 1,
+			Value:   v,
+		}
+	}
+	return c.exec(context.Background(), query, list)
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) exec(ctx context.Context, query string, args []namedValue) (driver.Result, error) {
+	start := 0
 	for {
 		s, err := c.Prepare(query)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -418,12 +430,16 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) Exec(query string, args []driver.Value) (driver.Result, err
 			if len(args) < na {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Not enough args to execute query. Expected %d, got %d.", na, len(args))
 			}
-			res, err = s.Exec(args[:na])
+			for i := 0; i < na; i++ {
+				args[i].Ordinal -= start
+			}
+			res, err = s.(*SQLiteStmt).exec(ctx, args[:na])
 			if err != nil && err != driver.ErrSkip {
 				s.Close()
 				return nil, err
 			}
 			args = args[na:]
+			start += na
 		}
 		tail := s.(*SQLiteStmt).t
 		s.Close()
@@ -434,8 +450,26 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) Exec(query string, args []driver.Value) (driver.Result, err
 	}
 }
 
+type namedValue struct {
+	Name    string
+	Ordinal int
+	Value   driver.Value
+}
+
 // Implements Queryer
 func (c *SQLiteConn) Query(query string, args []driver.Value) (driver.Rows, error) {
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, v := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue{
+			Ordinal: i + 1,
+			Value:   v,
+		}
+	}
+	return c.query(context.Background(), query, list)
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) query(ctx context.Context, query string, args []namedValue) (driver.Rows, error) {
+	start := 0
 	for {
 		s, err := c.Prepare(query)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -446,12 +480,16 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) Query(query string, args []driver.Value) (driver.Rows, erro
 		if len(args) < na {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Not enough args to execute query. Expected %d, got %d.", na, len(args))
 		}
-		rows, err := s.Query(args[:na])
+		for i := 0; i < na; i++ {
+			args[i].Ordinal -= start
+		}
+		rows, err := s.(*SQLiteStmt).query(ctx, args[:na])
 		if err != nil && err != driver.ErrSkip {
 			s.Close()
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		args = args[na:]
+		start += na
 		tail := s.(*SQLiteStmt).t
 		if tail == "" {
 			return rows, nil
@@ -462,7 +500,7 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) Query(query string, args []driver.Value) (driver.Rows, erro
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *SQLiteConn) exec(cmd string) (driver.Result, error) {
+func (c *SQLiteConn) execQuery(cmd string) (driver.Result, error) {
 	pcmd := C.CString(cmd)
 	defer C.free(unsafe.Pointer(pcmd))
 
@@ -476,7 +514,11 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) exec(cmd string) (driver.Result, error) {
 
 // Begin transaction.
 func (c *SQLiteConn) Begin() (driver.Tx, error) {
-	if _, err := c.exec(c.txlock); err != nil {
+	return c.begin(context.Background())
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) begin(ctx context.Context) (driver.Tx, error) {
+	if _, err := c.execQuery(c.txlock); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return &SQLiteTx{c}, nil
@@ -606,6 +648,10 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) Close() error {
 
 // Prepare the query string. Return a new statement.
 func (c *SQLiteConn) Prepare(query string) (driver.Stmt, error) {
+	return c.prepare(context.Background(), query)
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) prepare(ctx context.Context, query string) (driver.Stmt, error) {
 	pquery := C.CString(query)
 	defer C.free(unsafe.Pointer(pquery))
 	var s *C.sqlite3_stmt
@@ -618,15 +664,7 @@ func (c *SQLiteConn) Prepare(query string) (driver.Stmt, error) {
 	if tail != nil && *tail != '\000' {
 		t = strings.TrimSpace(C.GoString(tail))
 	}
-	nv := int(C.sqlite3_bind_parameter_count(s))
-	var nn []string
-	for i := 0; i < nv; i++ {
-		pn := C.GoString(C.sqlite3_bind_parameter_name(s, C.int(i+1)))
-		if len(pn) > 1 && pn[0] == '$' && 48 <= pn[1] && pn[1] <= 57 {
-			nn = append(nn, C.GoString(C.sqlite3_bind_parameter_name(s, C.int(i+1))))
-		}
-	}
-	ss := &SQLiteStmt{c: c, s: s, nv: nv, nn: nn, t: t}
+	ss := &SQLiteStmt{c: c, s: s, t: t}
 	runtime.SetFinalizer(ss, (*SQLiteStmt).Close)
 	return ss, nil
 }
@@ -650,7 +688,7 @@ func (s *SQLiteStmt) Close() error {
 
 // Return a number of parameters.
 func (s *SQLiteStmt) NumInput() int {
-	return s.nv
+	return int(C.sqlite3_bind_parameter_count(s.s))
 }
 
 type bindArg struct {
@@ -658,31 +696,23 @@ type bindArg struct {
 	v driver.Value
 }
 
-func (s *SQLiteStmt) bind(args []driver.Value) error {
+func (s *SQLiteStmt) bind(args []namedValue) error {
 	rv := C.sqlite3_reset(s.s)
 	if rv != C.SQLITE_ROW && rv != C.SQLITE_OK && rv != C.SQLITE_DONE {
 		return s.c.lastError()
 	}
 
-	var vargs []bindArg
-	narg := len(args)
-	vargs = make([]bindArg, narg)
-	if len(s.nn) > 0 {
-		for i, v := range s.nn {
-			if pi, err := strconv.Atoi(v[1:]); err == nil {
-				vargs[i] = bindArg{pi, args[i]}
-			}
-		}
-	} else {
-		for i, v := range args {
-			vargs[i] = bindArg{i + 1, v}
+	for i, v := range args {
+		if v.Name != "" {
+			cname := C.CString(v.Name)
+			args[i].Ordinal = int(C.sqlite3_bind_parameter_index(s.s, cname))
+			C.free(unsafe.Pointer(cname))
 		}
 	}
 
-	for _, varg := range vargs {
-		n := C.int(varg.n)
-		v := varg.v
-		switch v := v.(type) {
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		n := C.int(arg.Ordinal)
+		switch v := arg.Value.(type) {
 		case nil:
 			rv = C.sqlite3_bind_null(s.s, n)
 		case string:
@@ -722,6 +752,17 @@ func (s *SQLiteStmt) bind(args []driver.Value) error {
 
 // Query the statement with arguments. Return records.
 func (s *SQLiteStmt) Query(args []driver.Value) (driver.Rows, error) {
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, v := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue{
+			Ordinal: i + 1,
+			Value:   v,
+		}
+	}
+	return s.query(context.Background(), list)
+}
+
+func (s *SQLiteStmt) query(ctx context.Context, args []namedValue) (driver.Rows, error) {
 	if err := s.bind(args); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -740,6 +781,17 @@ func (r *SQLiteResult) RowsAffected() (int64, error) {
 
 // Execute the statement with arguments. Return result object.
 func (s *SQLiteStmt) Exec(args []driver.Value) (driver.Result, error) {
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, v := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue{
+			Ordinal: i + 1,
+			Value:   v,
+		}
+	}
+	return s.exec(context.Background(), list)
+}
+
+func (s *SQLiteStmt) exec(ctx context.Context, args []namedValue) (driver.Result, error) {
 	if err := s.bind(args); err != nil {
 		C.sqlite3_reset(s.s)
 		C.sqlite3_clear_bindings(s.s)
diff --git a/sqlite3_go18.go b/sqlite3_go18.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7109d58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sqlite3_go18.go
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+// +build go1.8
+
+package sqlite3
+
+import (
+	"database/sql/driver"
+	"errors"
+
+	"golang.org/x/net/context"
+)
+
+// Ping implement Pinger.
+func (c *SQLiteConn) Ping(ctx context.Context) error {
+	if c.db == nil {
+		return errors.New("Connection was closed")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) QueryContext(ctx context.Context, query string, args []driver.NamedValue) (driver.Rows, error) {
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, nv := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue(nv)
+	}
+	return c.query(ctx, query, list)
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) ExecContext(ctx context.Context, query string, args []driver.NamedValue) (driver.Result, error) {
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, nv := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue(nv)
+	}
+	return c.exec(ctx, query, list)
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) PrepareContext(ctx context.Context, query string) (driver.Stmt, error) {
+	return c.prepare(ctx, query)
+}
+
+func (c *SQLiteConn) BeginContext(ctx context.Context) (driver.Tx, error) {
+	return c.begin(ctx)
+}
+
+func (s *SQLiteStmt) QueryContext(ctx context.Context, args []driver.NamedValue) (driver.Rows, error) {
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, nv := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue(nv)
+	}
+	return s.query(ctx, list)
+}
+
+func (s *SQLiteStmt) ExecContext(ctx context.Context, args []driver.NamedValue) (driver.Result, error) {
+	list := make([]namedValue, len(args))
+	for i, nv := range args {
+		list[i] = namedValue(nv)
+	}
+	return s.exec(ctx, list)
+}
diff --git a/sqlite3_go18_test.go b/sqlite3_go18_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc8aa4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sqlite3_go18_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2014 Yasuhiro Matsumoto <mattn.jp@gmail.com>.
+//
+// Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+// +build go1.8
+
+package sqlite3
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestNamedParams(t *testing.T) {
+	tempFilename := TempFilename(t)
+	defer os.Remove(tempFilename)
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", tempFilename)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Failed to open database:", err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+
+	_, err = db.Exec(`
+	create table foo (id integer, name text, extra text);
+	`)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("Failed to call db.Query:", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = db.Exec(`insert into foo(id, name, extra) values(:id, :name, :name)`, sql.Param(":name", "foo"), sql.Param(":id", 1))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("Failed to call db.Exec:", err)
+	}
+
+	row := db.QueryRow(`select id, extra from foo where id = :id and extra = :extra`, sql.Param(":id", 1), sql.Param(":extra", "foo"))
+	if row == nil {
+		t.Error("Failed to call db.QueryRow")
+	}
+	var id int
+	var extra string
+	err = row.Scan(&id, &extra)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("Failed to db.Scan:", err)
+	}
+	if id != 1 || extra != "foo" {
+		t.Error("Failed to db.QueryRow: not matched results")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/sqlite3_test.go b/sqlite3_test.go
index cf826dd..e578404 100644
--- a/sqlite3_test.go
+++ b/sqlite3_test.go
@@ -993,42 +993,6 @@ func TestVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestNumberNamedParams(t *testing.T) {
-	tempFilename := TempFilename(t)
-	defer os.Remove(tempFilename)
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", tempFilename)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Failed to open database:", err)
-	}
-	defer db.Close()
-
-	_, err = db.Exec(`
-	create table foo (id integer, name text, extra text);
-	`)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error("Failed to call db.Query:", err)
-	}
-
-	_, err = db.Exec(`insert into foo(id, name, extra) values($1, $2, $2)`, 1, "foo")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error("Failed to call db.Exec:", err)
-	}
-
-	row := db.QueryRow(`select id, extra from foo where id = $1 and extra = $2`, 1, "foo")
-	if row == nil {
-		t.Error("Failed to call db.QueryRow")
-	}
-	var id int
-	var extra string
-	err = row.Scan(&id, &extra)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error("Failed to db.Scan:", err)
-	}
-	if id != 1 || extra != "foo" {
-		t.Error("Failed to db.QueryRow: not matched results")
-	}
-}
-
 func TestStringContainingZero(t *testing.T) {
 	tempFilename := TempFilename(t)
 	defer os.Remove(tempFilename)
@@ -1315,6 +1279,22 @@ func TestDeclTypes(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPinger(t *testing.T) {
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", ":memory:")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	err = db.Ping()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	db.Close()
+	err = db.Ping()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Should be closed")
+	}
+}
+
 var customFunctionOnce sync.Once
 
 func BenchmarkCustomFunctions(b *testing.B) {
diff --git a/sqlite3_type.go b/sqlite3_type.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..748bc42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sqlite3_type.go
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package sqlite3
+
+/*
+#ifndef USE_LIBSQLITE3
+#include <sqlite3-binding.h>
+#else
+#include <sqlite3.h>
+#endif
+*/
+import "C"
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func (rc *SQLiteRows) ColumnTypeDatabaseTypeName(i int) string {
+	return C.GoString(C.sqlite3_column_decltype(rc.s.s, C.int(i)))
+}
+
+/*
+func (rc *SQLiteRows) ColumnTypeLength(index int) (length int64, ok bool) {
+	return 0, false
+}
+
+func (rc *SQLiteRows) ColumnTypePrecisionScale(index int) (precision, scale int64, ok bool) {
+	return 0, 0, false
+}
+*/
+
+func (rc *SQLiteRows) ColumnTypeNullable(i int) (nullable, ok bool) {
+	return true, true
+}
+
+func (rc *SQLiteRows) ColumnTypeScanType(i int) reflect.Type {
+	switch C.sqlite3_column_type(rc.s.s, C.int(i)) {
+	case C.SQLITE_INTEGER:
+		switch C.GoString(C.sqlite3_column_decltype(rc.s.s, C.int(i))) {
+		case "timestamp", "datetime", "date":
+			return reflect.TypeOf(time.Time{})
+		case "boolean":
+			return reflect.TypeOf(false)
+		}
+		return reflect.TypeOf(int64(0))
+	case C.SQLITE_FLOAT:
+		return reflect.TypeOf(float64(0))
+	case C.SQLITE_BLOB:
+		return reflect.SliceOf(reflect.TypeOf(byte(0)))
+	case C.SQLITE_NULL:
+		return reflect.TypeOf(nil)
+	case C.SQLITE_TEXT:
+		return reflect.TypeOf("")
+	}
+	return reflect.SliceOf(reflect.TypeOf(byte(0)))
+}