Humanity has gone from carting bricks of gold around, to printing paper currency and then moving on to bits of plastic that move our “theoretical money” around. But even carrying credit cards proved to be a hassle so we invented different ways of paying money, namely using NFC chips in our phones to “tap and pay” as we reach the teller. But perhaps now we won’t even have to reach into our pockets to get our phones, that is if the system Japan is going to implement turns out to be successful.
In an attempt to prevent any theft or other crime related activities that may arise during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games, the Japanese government will start installing fingerprint scanners at 300 popular tourist destinations – such as hotels, shops, restaurants and other similar establishments – this Summer.
The experiment will have inbound tourists register their fingerprints and other data, such as credit card information, at airports and elsewhere. Tourists would then be able to conduct tax exemption procedures and make purchases after verifying their identities by placing two fingers on special devices installed at stores.
However, passports will still be required to check in at hotel though the Japanese government plans to substitute fingerprints for passports at some point. While the initial area covered by the fingerprint scanner is relatively small, it will expand further by next spring with hopes to have the entire country covered by 2020.
Data concerning how and where foreign tourists use the system will be managed by a consultative body led by the government, after the data is converted to anonymous big data which will form a level of security for tourists from identity theft. After analyzing tourists’ movements and their spending habits, the data is then expected to be utilized to devise policies on tourism and management strategies for the tourism industry in an effort to boost the country’s tourism levels.
A similar system has already been implemented at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki. A company spokesman had this to say about the system:
“The system has been well received by customers, including those with children, since it saves them the trouble of taking their wallets out.”
But the new measures aren’t restricted to tourists only – Japan will also be testing a system for its own citizens that will allow them to withdraw money from ATM machines
