Eye on Retail: Amazon reaches for biometric payments
The digital giant is reportedly testing a new system for Whole Foods Market.
According to the New York Post, the e-tailer is internally piloting new technology that scans an individual’s hand to recognize them for automatic payment. Reportedly code named “Orville,” the system would enable Amazon Prime members to scan their hands at a Whole Foods store and have their purchase automatically charged to a linked credit or debit account, the report said.
The scanner does not read the customer’s fingerprint or physically touch their hands. Instead, it identifies unique characteristics of a human hand using advanced computer vision technology. Amazon is currently testing Orville with employees using vending machines at its New York offices.
A source told the Post the system is currently accurate to one-ten-thousandth of 1%, but Amazon wants to increase accuracy to one-millionth of 1% before beginning rollout at select Whole Foods stores in early 2020.
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