Tech

Amazon wants to use your palm to be your concert ticket

One of the things artists, promoters, and ticket sellers want to do is irrevocably tie a concert ticket to the person that bought it. If that can be done, scalping could be cut down to almost nothing overnight. That’s the theory, anyway.

There have been many attempts at creating this kind of security, all of which have been awkward (having to present your ticket along the credit card used to purchase it) or invasive (facial recognition). Amazon thinks they’ve got a solution.

Amazon One is a palm reader that’s already been used at select Whole Foods stores (Amazon owns the company). Customers who sign up with a scan of their palm print can use that at checkout instead of a credit card, debit card, or cash.

As of this week, Amazon One will be used at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. Once you sign up, you can ditch the concert tickets. Just scan your palm on your way in. The amphitheatre will have a dedicated line for Amazon One people, theoretically making admission a faster process. You’ll still be patted down and have your bags searched for contraband and weapons, so I’m not sure exactly what the time saving will be.

Amazon says that the tech is highly secure and the reading of the palm takes between one and two seconds.

Tens of thousands of people have already signed up across the UK. That number is bound to increase as Amazon makes the tech available to more third parties.

(Via Gizmodo)

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 37860 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

2 thoughts on “Amazon wants to use your palm to be your concert ticket

  • Just what the world needs is less ways to get a physical ticket and more ways for Amazon to intrude into your physical space (quite literally).

    (Look at me being short and to the point!)

    Reply
  • I’m not sure I care for this idea anyway ( some of this biometric ID stuff kind of gives me the creeps), and Amazon being the driving force here isn’t helping. Not to mention that if the goal is to tie a person to their tickets it turns into a bit of a ripoff. Will there be something in place for someone who legitimately needs to sell or give away their tickets? If not, count me out.

    Reply

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