Amazon already got rid of checkout lines at its futuristic and automated store Amazon Go stores. Now, it wants to make getting into those stores easier too. Starting Tuesday, it will let people use its latest biometric technology known as “Amazon One” to enter into two Amazon Go locations in Seattle.
The two stores in Seattle are Amazon Go store at 7th & Blanchard and store in South Lake Union at 300 Boren Ave. North.
“Today, our physical retail team is excited to introduce a new innovation called Amazon One. Amazon One is a fast, convenient, contactless way for people to use their palm to make everyday activities like paying at a store, presenting a loyalty card, entering a location like a stadium, or badging into work more effortless.”
Dilip Kumar, Vice President Physical Retail & Technology at Amazon
Answering a question, Why did you pick palm recognition? Kumar says:
We selected palm recognition for a few important reasons. One reason was that palm recognition is considered more private than some biometric alternatives because you can’t determine a person’s identity by looking at an image of their palm.
People can sign up for Amazon One at one of the company’s Amazon Go stores. Amazon said the process takes less than a minute and it’ll associate a person’s credit card with their palm signature. People can enroll with just one palm or both. Once signed up, people can hold their palm above an Amazon One device to enter the Amazon Go stores.
Amazon said it plans to expand the technology at its own stores in the coming months and also plans to offer Amazon One to third parties like retail sites, stadiums and office buildings.