Amazon has submitted a patent application for new payment technology that would allow shoppers to make their purchases by taking a selfie or video of themselves instead of typing in an account password. The e-commerce company also recently received a patent for one-click purchasing.
This new application filed with the United States patent office is related to a different Amazon patent that allows a customer's image or video to verify a user. However, the previous patent was not specific for financial transactions, according to Re/code.
Amazon's newest application claims to make it safer for customers to make online purchases. The reason is it uses self-pictures instead of passwords that can be hard to remember and a big problem when they are stolen.
Keying in a password can even affect people's relationships with friends and relatives. They often turn away from them, which can cause a strange or embarrassing situation.
Some shoppers store their passwords on their smartphones or tablets so they do not have to input the secret code every time they need it. However, it can become bad event if someone steals their mobile device.
Amazon's pay-by-selfie system could solve the problem. The patent explains that a smartphone or computer could require the user to perform various actions or motions/gestures such as smiling, blinking, or head-tilting.
This new tech would prove that the Amazon shopper is who they claim they are. It would prevent a charlatan from just holding up a picture of an Amazon customer.
The Seattle-based company is still working on the selfie payment system. However, it is a sign that the tech world is developing systems that would replace the account password. Last year Alibaba executive chairman Jack Ma demonstrated similar selfie technology.
In addition, Master Card is also launching photo-based and fingerprint-scanning payment tech in the US and United Kingdom, according to Time.
Master Card customers must first download the payment app. They are required to blink when snapping the photo to verify that it is a selfie instead of an old picture.
The tech will have a limited rollout during the next few months. However, the credit card giant shares that the selfie/fingerprint tech will be widely used in five years.
Here's Master Card's selfie-pay feature: