Packed with biometric data and a computer chip, new federal employee IDs represent potential boon to technology companies eyeing an estimated $8 billion in identity-related contracts.
Posts Tagged ‘Biometrics’
Plan for Enhanced Federal IDs Could Open Door to a Biometrics Boom
Monday, August 28th, 2006Pay For Groceries By Touch
Monday, May 15th, 2006Harris Teeter is starting to roll out a biometric technology that allows shoppers to pay for groceries by touch. Sign up is fairly simple. All you need to do is sign-up at a special kiosk located in select Harris Teeter grocery stores. Sign up consist of providing identification, a voided check, your Harris Teeter loyalty card, and your finger print scan. Once you are approved, you can pay for groceries by the touch of your finger. Currently the payment method is direct debit (eCheck) directly from your bank account. See AllPayNews posting: PAYING FOR GROCERIES JUST GOT EASIER AT HARRIS TEETER!
This biometric payment technology is sure to catch on, but I’m sure it will evolve where you will not have to sign up with every store. There will soon be a third party financial services company like Visa or Mastercard that will provide the biometric payment service.
Back to Automatic Identification Technology.
Many Nations Have ID Cards in the Work
Friday, September 2nd, 2005Most nations have already implemented or are in the process of implementing ID card program for their citizens. As a minimum, countries are implementing biometric and RFID-enabled passports to control people crossing their borders. On the other extreme, countries like Malaysia are issuing multi-functional ID cards for everyone over twelve years of age. CNET News article says that the Malaysia ID card “… stores thumbprints, a digital photo and basic information on the cardholder, including religion for the major ethnic group, the Malays. But the card also serves as a driver’s license, passport and, under government plans, the national health card. And cardholders can use it to pay for purchases, withdraw money from ATMs, cover transit fares, pay road tolls and digitally sign documents on their PCs.” If terrorist attacks continue, we may all soon have ID cards like Malaysia. See Wikipedia for more National Identity Documents.
