Futuristic payment methods are go23 March 2006
Despite the recent change in chip and pin regulations being fresh in people's memories, supermarkets and retailers are attempting to maintain the momentum of new ease of use technology sweeping the country.
Since February 14th of this year shoppers nationwide have been obligated to key in their pin numbers when purchasing goods with their credit and debit cards, a change which many thought was under planned and rushed through. However, a UK supermarket is trialling an even more ultramodern method of payment.
One finger discount
Three Co-op branches in Oxford have already begun a 16-week trial of biometric, or fingerprint, technology as a means of customer payment. Shoppers have their credit or debit card details linked to the scanner and merely have to press their finger to a reader in order to pay for the goods in their shopping baskets.
The Pay By Touch scheme involves consumers signing up either online or in store and is entirely free. Rather than overcomplicate matters, store bosses claim that users have been pleased at the way the technology simplifies payment, with many still apparently worried about having to remember a four-digit pin number.
However, doubts have been raised by professionals about the implications for consumers and small businesses about mass-adoption of biometric systems, with security becoming an increasingly pressing concern for smaller firms. Adrian Cannon, managing director of consultancy Accourt, disagreed with the assertion that fingerprint scanning would make paying at shop tills more efficient. "The experience of chip and pin is that anything that slows the payment process is unwelcome," he said to website Silicon.
The main danger with biometrics could be that consumers are trusting their fingerprints to commercial companies and there are concerns that this sensitive data could be made available to outside agencies, further fuelling the UK's apparent identity theft crisis. Mr Cannon added that consumer use of biometrics was "unproven and questionable".
Squeamish
Defending the experiment of using fingerprint scanners, Bill Laird, chief operating officer of Co-op Midcounties, told Silicon that biometrics was the "least squeamish and the most acceptable" technology available, with similar systems "still at the proving stage".
The technologies that Mr Laird was alluding to could include iris scanning, which continues to be gradually introduced at Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport. The Iris Recognition Immigrations System (which handily abbreviates to Iris), has now been implemented at terminals 1, 2 and 4. It allows travellers to gain entry to the UK without waiting to see an immigration officer.
After having previously had their identity verified, people can bypass lengthy immigration queues by using an automated barrier and eye-verification screen. While the system may sound as if it has been installed for ease of use, the context for its initial installation was in fact the aftermath of the London terrorist bombings of July 7th 2005.
Look, no hands
Although biometric fingerprint technology involves pressing down a finger on a touchpad, it is classed along with Iris as contactless technology. Also included in this category are smart cards such as Oyster cards used by London commuters. UK residents can expect to be using contactless systems on a more regular basis, as the chancellor Gordon Brown has already given the green light to biometric passports and the proposed ID cards.
With high street banks and major retailers also said to be keen on implementing more convenient futuristic systems based on customer demand, small firms should be aware of the benefits of investing in similar technologies to ensure they keep up with consumer trends. But it remains to be seen how much more convenient you can get than simply looking at a cash machine in order to withdraw money.
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