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Electronics

PayTouch lets you pay for purchases using your fingerprints

By Ben Coxworth
May 01, 2013
PayTouch lets you pay for purchases using your fingerprints
The PayTouch system allows users to make purchases using their fingerprints in place of a debit or credit card
The PayTouch system allows users to make purchases using their fingerprints in place of a debit or credit card
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The PayTouch system allows users to make purchases using their fingerprints in place of a debit or credit card
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The PayTouch system allows users to make purchases using their fingerprints in place of a debit or credit card

If you went into a store without any cash, cards or mobile devices, would you be able to buy anything? Well, if both you and the store were using the new PayTouch service, the answer would be yes – all that you’d need to do is place two of your fingers on the fingerprint scanners of the PayTouch terminal.

When users first start with the system, they register their fingerprints at a PayTouch Enrollment station at a participating business. Those prints are then linked with one or more of the user’s debit or credit cards.

Once everything is up and running, the user can make purchases simply by placing two of their fingers on the dual fingerprint scanners of a PayTouch mobile payment device – they can use either their right index and middle finger, or left middle and ring finger. As soon as the system verifies their identity via their fingerprints, the payment is automatically made from the linked card.

The whole process takes only about five seconds, and requires no passwords, signatures, or pretty much anything other than two fingers. Additionally, PayTouch is reportedly free to use, involving no fees or commissions.

More information is available in the video below.

Source: PayTouch via Engadget
What is PayTouch? - How I can use PayTouch?

Tags

ElectronicsBiometricsPayment TechnologyFingerprintCredit Cards
8 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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8 comments
Slowburn
With how easy it is to spoof fingerprint readers It majorly lacks in security.
christopher
All USA travelers give their fingerprints to US agencies at the airport (not to mention police, laptop and other security devices, and who-knows how many other places/people who collect this stuff without us knowing - like ATMs/Hackers/... Using fingerprints for anything, now that they're so widely collected and disseminated, is a *really* bad idea. These aren't passwords guys - you can't change them once they're hacked (not without some serious pain anyhow), and you're dropping a million copies of these things everywhere, every day of your life.
Daishi
Using fingerprints and nothing else would be a bad idea but used in combination with another method it wouldn't be terrible.
christopher is right that you can't just change your fingerprints if someone makes a copy so it would pretty much require having a pin or password along with it that could be changed and to act as at least a basic protection against false matches.
I don't have much of a problem though if after using my credit card instead of signing for stuff I hand scan or use a finger print reader. That way if my credit card number is stolen and someone uses it, they already have fingerprints on file for the perp.
With that said though, the most common form of credit card theft seems to be database compromise and that is something that can be prevented better.
Pretend I use my credit card at newegg or something for the first time. When they process my transaction with Visa, Visa creates a new string of numbers and letters to reference not just the transaction, but newegg as the purchaser. Newegg stores that ID instead of my actual credit card # in their database so if they get compromised later the data retrieved in that compromise is useless to anyone wanting to clone my card with it and go on a spending spree.
People could still use skimmers etc. to clone cards but those methods are higher risk and lower reward than remotely compromising databases of eCommerce sites with thousands and hundreds of thousands of customers.
The idea of just trying to prevent compromise is an old school methodology that has reliably failed. Compartmentalizing those relatively inevitable compromises is the only rational measure.
Alba
There's no way I'd pay with their system anymore. I've experienced a few problems and when I requested to be deleted from their database they took 5 months to do it... and kept ignoring my polite requests.
They might seem absolutely fabulous but frankly, they won't get me again!
Bob Ehresman
This is not "2 factor" as presented. If they added a PIN # or password I would like it better. Something you have (fingers) and something you know...
Slowburn
You pretty much have to carry a ID card all the time anyway so what is the difficulty in carrying a credit card as well.
donwine
Now invent a device that zaps hackers and thieves!
Gordon Ross
Being involved in biometric technology since 1989, this idea of paying with a fingerprint is ludicrous IMHO. Fingerprints can be easily spoofed, even though various manufacturers say their system can't be.
If you lose your credit/debit card, guess what... your fingerprints are all over the cards and it is relatively simple to lift those print. Fingerprint systems, for use in a public environment require "maintenance" which many forget about.
I always find it amazing how quickly we want to adopt technology before really understanding the ramification. Who does it make it easier for... the consumer or the company??
Finger print readers we tried in some grocery stores in the early 2000's. Due to their weaknesses their were scrapped by many.
I would never give up my prints other than required by law.