Whole Foods Allows Customers To Pay With Palm Scanners—Here’s How It Works
ForbesMAY 2023
Amazon's invention of the palm-reading payment system is remarkable from both a business and health perspective. What may not be talked about is that this technology, which was built in record time, boosted Americans' confidence during the pandemic as they increasingly sought out touchless payment systems to steer clear of spreading viruses. Amazon has remained ahead of competitors like Apple and Walmart as it works to single-handedly revolutionize the payment processing industry.
The use of biometric scanning — not just for palms, but facial and finger recognition, too — can very well lead to a dystopian future. While such tyrannical surveillance schemes are already seen in China, Western states, too, in conjunction with technology companies, are already using it. The UK's National Health System, for example, used facial scans to pull up people's COVID status, and stores are using it to spot "subjects of interest" who walk into their shops. This move is deeply concerning.