I found this article and thought it interesting . Do you all think people will like this technology? I made up my mind a long time ago that I won't ever do this kind of thing, but it is progressing quickly.

No wallet required

Fingerprints may replace plastic, cash

By Francine BrevettiBusiness Writer

OAKLAND'S VERISTAR is facing a crucial summer test, actually five tests, to see if its long-researched technology will persuade retailers and fast-food chains to jump to processing fingerprints as identification.

The field known as biometrics -- identifying people through their physical features, whether their irises, voiceprints or fingerprints -- has been around for years but has not really taken off among retailers.

Since certain body characteristics are unique, it is argued that the best way to establish your identity is by using them instead of a personal identification number that you can forget or a plastic card or account number that can be stolen or lost.

"We're the first to take finger imaging to the consumer space in general. You can identify yourself to the scanner just as you use credit cards and checks. For the retailer, the economics of not having to handle pieces of paper or plastic are pretty compelling," said Veristar president and chief executive officer Philip J. Gioia.

Now Veristar, formerly Smart Touch of Berkeley, is seeing five large retailers and chains put its system of linking fingerprints to payment systems through its paces in pilot programs around the country. Though Gioia won't name the specific companies involved, they include a fast-food company in Sacramento; a large supermarket chain in New York and New Jersey; a large "boutique market" in Seattle; an electronic discounter in the Southeast; and a regional multimillion dollar supermarket in St. Louis.

Veristar's technology -- backed by 19 patents -- links the body information to payment systems. It has partners with hardware companies making fingerprint scanners and other devices.

To enroll in the voluntary Veristar system, the consumer presses her finger on the button on a scanner that photographs her fingerprint. Veristar registers that print in its database. When the consumer goes to make a purchase, again she presses the scanner. Veristar matches her fingerprint's minutiae with those in its database. A positive match triggers her credit card company to bill her. She pays her tab without rummaging around in her purse or backpack for her wallet.

"A lot of companies make scanners. A lot make software to match the print with the database. Veristar is taking it a step beyond to the full solution. They deliver the whole system," said Raj Nanavati, a partner of the research consultancy International Biometric Group. "You don't have to buy the scanner. Veristar puts the device on your counter and manages the whole process."

Till recently, biometric identification has been employed mainly in government, the military and law enforcement. Of late, there's been modest incursion into banks' ATM machines and into the keyboards of some computer makers to allow users to log on.

But if Veristar wants to make its product work in retail, biometrics has to be embraced by credit card companies. Visa International in Foster City has been testing the technology in its own employee cafeteria for the last three years.

Chetan Pawardhan, Visa's director of strategic business development, said the fingerprint scanner in the employee cafeteria has registered over 50,000 transactions, or $200,000 in transactions for the 200 employees Visa recruited for the program since Oct. 1, 1998. He said the Veristar technology has worked "flawlessly."

Ricky Sun, a test supervisor in Visa's applied research division, presses his index finger for his lunch regularly. He has been using it for a year and a half and he likes it because "I don't need my wallet or anything."

But Pawardhan would not comment on Visa's possible adoption of the system for its cardholders. He said that issue is currently "under intense debate." He indicated there would be a decision in the near future.

This of course is the crucial piece. Getting retailers to sign on is just one hurdle to overcome, the next is to get the banking system to endorse it.

Shalini Chowdhary, an analyst with Frost & Sullivan in San Jose, said the acceptance of biometric identification in the retail sphere has been delayed by technical problems and lack of confidence within the banking and credit card community.

Banks and credit card companies have not rushed to embrace this technology because they've invested hundreds of millions in the credit card system they've been operating for the last 40 years and more recently smart cards that have a microchip embedded in them.

And those pieces of plastic carry the banks' logo on them whereas one's fingerprint does not.

Veristar's Gioia insists that biometrics need not replace the plastic world, only supplement it.

"Our tests this summer are designed to conclusively demonstrate that consumer acceptance and preference. Once that has been established, the banks will take a different view of biometrics," he predicted.

©1999-2001 by MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), June 28, 2001

Answers

Anything that deals with a cashless society or tracking of people bothers me tremendously. I'm just a nobody but I don't care for the idea of anyone being able to track me or my purchases. To quote someone on another forum, "just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me!'.

-- Deena in GA (dsmj55@aol.com), June 28, 2001.

Indeed, some of the identification and tracking technologies, combined the concept of the cashless society, do bear an omnious resemblance to the "Mark of the Beast" described in Revelation.....

-- Cantthinkofagoodname (Arax7@mvn.net), June 28, 2001.

Do I think people will like this? Oh,Yes. Most(not all) will follow it blindly like lambs to the slaughter, believing whatever they are told to believe, by whomever they percieve to be an authority on the matter. We already have some banks that require a fingerprint just to cash a check. You never heard an uproar over that, You won't over this. Aren't we conditioned as a society to accept, without thinking or analysis, the mantra that: 'new or improved(ESPECIALLY Technology) = better'?

After all, it must be good or worthwhile or people wouldn't have spent so much time/energy on working on it. Right? The only things that come into the marketplace are items or services that make our lives better, or are good for us to have. Right? Things like DDT. Right? Things like human cloning.Right? Right? Things like fascism. Right? Right? Right?

One more (GOOD) reason NOT to have a credit card.

-- StevenB (thicketyrowfarm@aol.com), June 28, 2001.

StevenB is Correct "FIRST UNION" demands a thumbprint to cash a check even when your one of their customers.

I guess everyone here knows this but just in case...If you remove 10,000 or more from your personal account the bank alerts the ATF, locale sheriff and some gov body in the Fed Banking conglomerate. WHY? They say you must be a drug dealer or worse to remove that much cash from "their" protected institution.

Living here in the United States of the Offended just gets better and better. :o)~

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), June 28, 2001.

The reporting for $10,000 withdrawal was in effect in 1981, I know - I was going to take that much out. I didn't feel like paperwork that day - so took out 9900, no problem. Angie in N. AL

-- AngieM2 (ameininger@hotmail.com), June 28, 2001.

Anybody ever read "And the Truth Shall Set You Free", by David Icke? Talks all about this...

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), June 28, 2001.

I don't like banks that require a thumbprint to cash a check.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), June 28, 2001.

Yet another good reason to deal in cash only (or money orders). I would never allow anyone to fingerprint me for the purpose of doing business, I guess that is why we are working to be self-sufficient. Sadly, I believe that most of the folks in the USA would see this intrusion as just another time saver/security measure and think nothing of it. When I rule the world (LOL no breath holding please), all teen-agers will be required to read the history of the coming to power of Hitler and how the German people willingly gave up their rights one by one. How easy was it to identify all of the Jewish people????? Really scary stuff! God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), June 28, 2001.

I'm just a bit surprised that the Visa employees were all right with it. I repeat again, I won't do it. Did you all know that Wells Fargo has begun to install the retinal scanners at ATMs?

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), June 29, 2001.

I'm afraid the majority of the people will accept this because it is more convenient, and heaven forbid any of us being inconvenienced. Looks like I'll have to become a full-fledged hermit yet, instead of just kind of a hermit, huh?

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), June 29, 2001.

All I can say is that, if you don't want to deal with these things coming down the pike, you had better get as independent as possible, as quickly as possible. When you can't exchange goods and services because of them, you'll understand why. An excellent reason to homestead.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littleBit@compworldnet.com), June 29, 2001.

Were pretty much a cashless socitey now, Check and plastic payments far excceed cash payments for most of the US.

-- gary (gws@redbird.net), July 03, 2001.

Here is a website that shows me just how close we are getting to the mark of the beast. No need for fingerprints, just implant this little device and life will be so simple. Paranoid? Not me!!

http://www.worthynews.com/news-features/digital-angel-3.html

-- Bonnie (witsend@merr.com), July 03, 2001.

How close we are to the tribulation, and a chip or mark to buy or sell, No I do not like it, and will resist, Lesley you are right on. Everyone the time is growing short, the New World Order is on fast track now, World courts, Take your guns away meeting , that the UN is haveing in a few weeks, I have grown children who don"t have the foggest what is going on.and to them it would just be a convenince to buy with a finger print. And there goes my flea market!!!!!!!No cash no flea market, Love Irene

-- Irene texas (cat lady@cs.com), July 04, 2001.

Bonnie,

Thanks for web site, Try Americanfreedomnews.com , I think you will like that one too. God Bless Irene

-- Irene texas (catlady@cs.com), July 04, 2001.

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

-- winston (sorry@hotmail.com), March 30, 2004.