Monday, June 15, 2009

Supermarkets To Refuse Cash

I work in an industry where biometrics are becoming more and more of a factor.

About ten years ago I saw, at a trade show, a checkout system that used fingerprint scans to verify payments. If you went to a regular supermarket in your home town, you had the option of linking your fingerprint to a credit card, debit card, or checking account.

The checkout system did not require a human operator. It was similar to the self checkout systems people are seeing in Home Depot, Lowes, and Wal-Mart. A single cashier could manage up to ten lanes.

When one conducted an initial transaction and paid, the machine asked if you would like to link the account to your fingerprint. The selling point was convenience and security. The next time you came through and did your shopping, all you had to do was press your finger to the pad, and your account would be charged the appropriate amount. Also, if someone tried to pay with your account, they would be prompted to verify their print, after all, why would you be using a card if your print was already stored?

The really scary thing about this machine was that there wasn't a provision for making a cash payment.

Now, I'm a tech, not a sales guy or management. So this was a tech to tech conversation during the setup before the show opened to the general audience. I told the tech demo-ing the equipment, "F-that. I ain't going to use that thing." His response? "You won't have a choice."

That always bothered me.

Things that negatively impact our freedoms seem to either start here in California, or Europe.

Check out this story from the Netherlands.

DutchNews.nl - "Supermarkets Set To Refuse Cash"

6 comments:

HermitJim said...

I will stand in line for 30 minutes at the store before using a machine to check out!

If the store doesn't think enough of me to furnish me with a real person to check me out, they do not need me as a customer!

As far as not having a choice...wanna bet?

mmpaints said...

LOL, I'm with Hermit, nobody forces me to do anything. If I can't use cash I don't do it. There's nothing out there for sale I need so bad as to be forced to use a credit card or a fingerprint to get it.

Maitreya said...

Just one question;
Does it come with a complementary 666 tattoo?

Anonymous said...

Look for the Left to push hard for this. They know it would be a dagger in the gut of many conservatives. When you have to have this to vote, it will be all over for the Right because many would refuse it. That's why the Left will expedite it.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you, thats some scary stuff!

Ken said...

...i guess it was inevitable eh ?...'cash' is freedom,therefore the PTB won't have it,they can't track yer spending habits that way...they can't control anyone not 'in the system'...

...another line in the sand,with every intention of stepping over it to draw another...