Photo Credit: The Verge
New technology produced by Amazon was recently presented at two Amazon Go stores. The system is referred to as Amazon One, and enables shoppers to pay with the palm of their hand. A customer’s shopping experience is said to be better, quicker, and safer during this time of uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The future potential of this technology could lead to a new way of life for people and their everyday routine. This system could be practiced in other ways, such as entering concerts, or using public transportation. There is also a possibility for Amazon One to appear at local Whole Foods markets, since the supermarket chain is owned by Amazon. However, Amazon has yet to comment if Amazon One will be introduced in those markets, according to Inc.
The Amazon One system works by analyzing a person’s hand shape, including the veins under the skin. It is another form of verifying your identity, same as if you were to use facial recognition or fingerprints. The technology used can detect “the minute characteristics of your palm-both surface-area details like lines and ridges as well as subcutaneous features such as vein patterns,” according to Amazon’s FAQ page.
The information collected on the palm scans are encrypted and will be in the cloud instead of staying within the scanning device. The system enables people to delete their data at any time by accessing their cloud, according to Geek Wire.
There are a few experts who remain suspicious of privacy concerns, especially with a company that has had privacy issues. Amazon One does present some advantages; compared to other biometrics, the use of palm scanning is more secure. Fingerprints and images of the face can be easily obtainable for others to use. It would be harder for someone to try to collect a hand print.
Law and policy researcher Elizabeth Renieris, believes “all the other biometrics that are becoming commonplace-face, fingerprints, iris; are all quite observable and visible from the outside. There’s definitely something to say for the advanced security [of palm scanning],” according to The Verge.
While there are some concerns over this new technology, it does show the promise of potential. If successfully used, this new technology could become more common in public settings.
