The Need for Speed

Note: this is the text from a Linkedin post I wrote, in response to a post by Cathy Hackl, She visited a concept store that features Alipay’s “smile to pay” facial recognition payment technology. Here’s her video where she’s discovering facial recognition payment systems in China.


https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6503651708290293760/

As I’ve written about before, I have some very serious reservations about facial recognition technology and how it will completely remove any semblance of privacy or anonymity.

And unfortunately, it’s inevitable.

What I am worried about is having our biometric data stored in so many databases, where we have no knowledge or control over how the data is stored and used. Yes the credit card company already know things about us, and can track us through transactions and location. But those things are still things that can be stopped; change accounts, banks, and your data is not permanent and persistent. Your face is yours, forever.

Amara’s law states that, “We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.” It certainly seems to apply.

Mind controlled virtual reality + the trials and tribulations of Contactless pay

Two interesting thought bites today around mind controlled virtual reality (!) + the trials and tribulations of contactless pay.

First, mind controlled virtual reality.  What fascinating technology it is! – they are creating a mind operated virtual reality interface. By combining virtual reality and motion capture with brain machine interfacing, they hope to help patients recover from traumatic events.

It uses electrodes to sense your brainwaves and muscle activity and a proprietary motion capture camera system to “predict” your movement before you make them – and combine this with VR immersion. The company’s gotten a $100 million cash infusion from the Hinduja Group, for a $1 billion valuation. Not bad for technology that doesn’t really exist yet.

Curious how it will solve for the disorientation that happens when your eyes/brain think you’re moving, but your body senses that it really isn’t.

And the second interesting find today: How unscrupulous people are taking advantage of contactless pay (much more prevalent in the UK than in the US) to randomly steal in crowded situations. If you’re not familiar, it’s when all you have to do to pay it tap your card: no verification needed.

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I am curious how this scam works though: someone bumps into you / your card with a point of sale device, which instantly transfers (swipes) some money. Into what account (where he can receive it and not be caught)? – there has to be a recipient account??

I understand there are safe guards in place to deal with this, namely transactions are held in limbo for a freeze period, and you can of course contest it if you see it in your account.

And I’m curious if there’s a way to “swipe” from one currency to another – i.e. take dollars/pounds and instantly (after the freeze period by your card’s bank) deposit it into a Bitcoin (untraceable) account.

Personally I think Apple pay’s biometric confirmation (finger swipe to approve transaction) a safe deal….I mean really, how many seconds do you really need to save for convenience? WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WITH ALL THESE EXTRA SECONDS??!

Enquiring minds want to know.

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