Japan experiments with Cashless Payments and Planned Obsolescence

RT News reports;

Japan is introducing a system with as an alternative to cash and credit cards. There are hopes the move will attract more tourists to the country, while easing payment and dispensing with the need for cards or cash. Tests are starting this summer.

The system will calculate how much money a customer has based on a fingerprint. Japan hopes to have it up-and-running in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.

The idea itself is not new – a version already exists at a bank and a theme park in Nagasaki Prefecture. Customers there can make payments at over 30 restaurants and businesses.

What’s so convenient about it is you only have to go through one scan when arriving to Japan – and you’re good to go (assuming you have money – this is Japan, after all). The customer places two fingers on a scanner to complete payment.

The experiment is about to start, and will feature some 300 businesses of all shapes and colors in areas most popular with tourists. The government will expand the list of businesses participating in the experiment by next spring, including further regions and prefectures.

Explanation @zurichtimes;

Such technology and moves towards a cashless society will always come disguised and cloaked in the words of “convenience” and “ease”. It was up to us to realize what they meant by “planned obsolescence”. 

Whose obsolescence were they planning; ours or theirs?

Sources:

• https://www.rt.com/news/339042-japan-fingerprint-scan-pay/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUFhRb53n1k
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW17rr20tGY