Thursday, July 19, 2007

Fingerprint Identification Moves Mainstream

Supply Chain Digest: Fingerprint Identification Moves Mainstream - Retail News.

Here is an excerpt:

Long a staple of futuristic movies, Biometric identification of consumers has gone from Hollywood to mainstream in just a couple of years, as theme parks and grocery store payment systems sprout from California to Dayton, OH.

Biometrics are automated methods of recognizing a person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic. Among the features measured are face, fingerprints, hand geometry, handwriting, iris, retinal, vein and voice.

In recent years, theme parks such as Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando have rolled out fingerprint-based systems designed to eliminate the ability of visitors to sell or give away admission tickets to another consumer when their visit is over.

Guests have their fingerprint (generally, the right index finger) scanned when they first enter the park, and that image is tied to the serial number of the admission ticket. If fingerprints don't match on subsequent admissions, admission is refused.

Meanwhile, a growing number of grocers, such as Jewel-Osco, Cub Foods, Piggly Wiggly and Harris Teeter, have rolled out pilot or production systems in at least some parts of their chains. Under a system from Pay by Touch, consumers pay for their groceries simply by having their fingerprint scanned at an in-store kiosk. No credit cards, check, cash or driver's license are required.

Tom Jackson, president and chief executive officer of the Ohio Grocers Association, said the Pay by Touch or similar system is more secure than traditional payment methods.

For the full article click the link above.





Pay By Touch

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