Biometric ATMs coming to rural India

Considering all the ATM hacking that's been going on of late, it's not all that surprising to see those "uber-secure" fingerprint readers hitting mini-banks in Japan and Columbia, and now a pilot program is getting set to install 15 biometric ATMs at "village kiosks in five districts across southern India." The fingerprint-reading machines are expected to serve around 100,000 workers, primarily farmers and other laborers, who will finally be able to withdraw funds directly from a machine rather than suffering through the corrupt hand-me-down process that often steals money away from already poor workers. AGS Infotech, who is supplying the first batch of systems for the trial, is interested in seeing if the system actually works out, as many villagers have trouble interacting with any type of computing interface, and because many villages have their own dialects, making a UI that can communicate to everyone is difficult. Of course, there are individuals who suggest that these systems will only incite crime, as thieves look to new methods (read: hacking a thumb or two) to extract funds, but proponents of the system say that this is no different than armed criminals forcing someone to give up their PIN number at gunpoint. Nevertheless, the trial is slated to start soon, and there's quite a few outsiders watching intently to gauge its eventual success or failure, as analysts predict that "over 100,000 ATMs" could be necessary to handle India's booming economy in the next few years.

[Tim Burns @ Jan 21st 2007 2:53AM]

So instead of the "corrupt hand-me-down process" they get a machine to steal their money? Neat!

[jaalin @ Jan 21st 2007 4:51AM]

james bond and ethan hunt will have a field day with this

[jivetrky @ Jan 21st 2007 4:56AM]

[QUOTE]as thieves look to new methods (read: hacking a thumb or two) to extract funds, but proponents of the system say that this is no different than armed criminals forcing someone to give up their PIN number at gunpoint.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, except that you can't FORCE someone to tell you their PIN. But you CAN force them to give you their finger.

[FrontBoob @ Jan 21st 2007 8:27AM]

That's a nice side-boob :D

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ Jan 21st 2007 10:43AM]

lovely isn't it?

[Eric @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:01PM]

agree... grab grab blublublublub

[SOCOMRAIDER @ Jan 21st 2007 4:12PM]

First thing I thought of when I seen the picture o_O

All you need now is mammogram ATMs in Beverly Hills to scan saline implants.

[Blake @ Jan 21st 2007 6:11PM]

Nice boob indeed. Makes me want to move to rural India.


"Hey baby, Want to scan MY finger?"

[kuhndog @ Jan 21st 2007 1:12PM]

i have no idea what this article is about.. i couldnt pay enough attention with all the boo.. i mean distractions..

[taka @ Jan 21st 2007 1:43PM]

ohhh--i see that finger-scanning atms are more important than clean water and decent healthcare in rural india...

[System @ Jan 21st 2007 11:00PM]

Hey taka takecocko money helps buy healthcare and clean water you dip.
As for healthcare, see what the State of the Union address mentions before you mouth off like a dip.

[kevjohn @ May 7th 2007 4:00PM]

Says ATM to busty female: I love it when you touch me like that, baby....